US envoy to visit Tacloban City, Palo LGUs on Tuesday

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 13): US envoy to visit Tacloban City, Palo LGUs on Tuesday

United States Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg will be the guest of honor during the launch of various rehabilitation projects in typhoon-affected communities supported by the US government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday.

In a press statement, Goldberg will lead the launching of the “US-funded initiative that seeks to reduce the vulnerability of residents in Ormoc, Leyte through livelihood support and building trafficking in persons (TIP) awareness and response capacity of community leaders.”

The Preventing Trafficking in Persons (TIP) through Sustainable Livelihood Recovery for Typhoon-Affected People” project will be launched at the Palo I Central School in Cavite West village, Palo.

He will also break ground two school buildings in the said school that will benefit 1,920 pupils.

The Php30.8 million project to be funded through USAID Rebuild is designed to withstand strong typhoons, flooding and earthquake, the statement added.

USAID Rebuild is a multi-component rehab effort with the restoration of access to education, health services and livelihood as priorities. It likewise provided technical assistance to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR).

He will be joined by USAID/Philippines Mission Director Gloria D. Steele, Department of Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla and Mayor Remedios L. Petilla during the ground breaking ceremonies.

Meanwhile, the US envoy will also join the closing program of the Pacific Partnership 2014, a multinational humanitarian aid and relief mission participated in by close to 300 military personnel from United States, Japan, Australia and Malaysia working side by side with their Filipino counterparts in Tacloban City and Palo.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=662145