Leyte gov welcomes USAID Rebuild project at Palo I Central School

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 13): Leyte gov welcomes USAID Rebuild project at Palo I Central School

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla welcomes the new project to be implemented by the US government through the USAID Rebuild Program at the Palo I Central School in Palo, Leyte.

Gov. Petilla said that with the total expanse of devastation wrought by Typhoon Yolanda in majority of schools in Leyte province, the provincial government and the Department of Education can only do as much, particularly in funding for repairs and reconstruction.

“We cannot do it all. Thus, support from other groups, organizations here and abroad and foreign government as well is always a welcome one,” Gov. Petilla said.

US Ambassador Philip Goldberg is scheduled to visit Leyte on July 15 for the groundbreaking ceremony of two school buildings at the Palo I Central School.

These school buildings will be constructed and furnished by the US government through USAID Rebuild. The Php30.8 million project, which is designed to withstand strong typhoons, flooding and earthquakes, will benefit about 1,920 students.

US Embassy Manila’s USAID Rebuild program is being implemented in partnership with the Philippine government. The program focuses on restoring access to education, health services and livelihood activities, and providing technical assistance to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery.

Also included in Rebuild’s education component is providing teaching kits and funding the construction of 165 fully-furnished classrooms throughout the province. The embassy said this will be implemented in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) to address the need for permanent school buildings in Yolanda-affected areas.

“With the help of USAID and support from the national government, we will build back and strengthen our schools here in the province of Leyte and help us to become more resilient in the face of all the challenges ahead,” Gov. Petilla added.

In June, the provincial government of Leyte through Gov. Petilla signed a USAID-supported twinning agreement with the Albay Public Safety and Management Office on disaster risk reduction and management.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the two provinces will share knowledge and expertise, and implement activities such as technical training and sharing of innovative technologies and approaches, scenario drills and peer reviews of existing plans and activities. USAID’s Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability (Be Secure) Project is facilitating the twinning.

In addition, Be Secure is working to repair and rehabilitate damaged water systems in Leyte.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=662144