USAID to launch rebuilding projects in Tacloban

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 7): USAID to launch rebuilding projects in Tacloban
 
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will launch on Monday several projects in this city to help rebuild communities flattened by last year's super typhoon Yolanda.

USAID acting assistant administrator for Asia Denise Rollins will lead the launching in the city of the United States-funded reconstruction and recovery activities, according to a media advisory of the US agency.

Rollins is expected to arrive in this city Monday morning. Upon her arrival, she will proceed to the Provincial Capitol to witness the signing of a twinning agreement on disaster risk reduction and management between the Albay Public Safety and Management Office, the Provincial Government of Leyte and USAID/Philippines.

The effort, spearheaded by USAID’s Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability (Be Secure) Project aims to restore destroyed water systems in Leyte.

Before launch, the USAID official will launch USAID Rebuild, a project designed to enhance education, health services and livelihood activities, and provide technical assistance to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR).

The ceremonies will commence at 12:45 in the afternoon with a program and the ground breaking of an eight-classroom building at the San Fernando Central School. Officials will also break the ground the USAID-funded tuberculosis clinic at the Tacloban City Main Health Center on the city hall grounds.

Before leaving the city, the official will inaugurate two sari-sari stores, the first of the 500 small community stores that will be constructed and rehabilitated. The initiative, which will restock sari-sari stores, is in partnership with Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble.

Officials of the provincial government of Leyte, city government of Tacloban, OPARR, departments of education, health, agriculture, trade and industry, and partners from the private sector are expected to participate in the launching.

Earlier this week, the USAID announced the provision of up to USD2 million in grant to rebuild livelihood, provide micro-financing and improve disaster-risk preparedness of vulnerable communities in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda.

In his visit to the Philippines last December, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced an additional USD24.6 million grant to augment relief efforts in typhoon-ravaged areas in central Philippines.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=651370