U.S. envoy leads turnover of projects in Yolanda-hit Leyte, Tacloban

PALO, LEYTE - Despite the rains, warm smiles from grateful students and teachers of Anahaway Elementary School and Anahaway National High School in Palo, Leyte welcomed U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim as he led the formal turnover of nine classrooms donated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Kim said the project shows the depth of commitment of the American government to the Filipino people.

“I told the children, because one of them asked me why the U.S. decided to help this area, I said because we’re friends and friends help each other when they’re in need,” he said.

Aside from the classrooms, the schools also received instructional materials while students got school bags and raincoats.

“This is a semblance of our strong friendship,” said Dr. Ronelo Firmo, superintendent of Leyte DepEd Division.

The U.S. government has spent around P7 billion to help rebuild communities that were devastated by super typhoon Yolanda.

USAID’s Rebuild Project has constructed over 300 classrooms, 12 health centers, and extended livelihood support to local entrepreneur, farmers, and fisherfolk.

In Tacloban City, Kim also led the turnover of a livelihood training center that can be used as evacuation center during disasters.

“We want to make sure to maintain our strong military partnership but also make sure that our economic engagement continues to be very deep as well. Most importantly we want to make sure that the foundation, the people to people ties, the deep friendship between Americans and Filipinos continues for years and decades to come,” Kim said.