US ambassador to visit Leyte, Eastern Samar

CEBU, Philippines - United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg is set to visit Leyte and Eastern Samar provinces on July 15 to participate in events supported by the US Embassy and the United States Agency for International Development.

In a press statement, the US AID said Goldberg will attend the closing ceremonies of Pacific Partnership to be held in Tacloban City at around 11 a.m. that day.

By early afternoon, he will be at the Palo I Central School in Barangay Cavite West of Palo, Leyte for the launching of the "Preventing Trafficking in Persons through Sustainable Livelihood Recovery for Typhoon-Affected People," a US-funded initiative.

Goldberg will also lead the groundbreaking ceremonies for two school buildings that will be constructed and furnished by the US government through US AID Rebuild. The P30.8-million project, designed to withstand strong typhoons, flooding and earthquakes, will benefit about 1,920 students.

Goldberg is expected to fly in to Leyte after an event at Guiuan town in Eastern Samar where he will attend a groundbreaking activity of a road project that is part of the US$434-million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation poured into the region.

A side trip to his Guiuan leg will be a visit to the coastal area of Barangay Pagnamitan, where he will lead the planting of mangroves.  (FREEMAN)