TACLOBAN CITY, – Top officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will visit this city on today to lead the turnover of US-funded school building and health facility.
USAID Chief Strategy Officer Carla Koppell will visit this typhoon-ravaged city for the first time. She will be accompanied by USAID Philippines’ Mission Director Susan K. Brems, who just assumed the new post mid-September.
In a media advisory, the USAID said that Koppel and Brems will lead the inauguration of the newly constructed five-classroom building in Panalaron Central School and the TB-DOTS (Tuberculosis- Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course) and birthing facility in Diit village.
They will also visit a community where USAID’s US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, in partnership with Catholic Relief Services, constructed transitional shelters for 130 families.
Tacloban City officials led by are expected to participate in the activities.
Both projects are funded through US government‘s USD142.5 million fund for USAID Rebuild projects for communities badly-hit by the 2013 catastrophe.
Launched in June 2014, Rebuild projects are being iimplemented in close partnership with the Philippine government and local communities. It focuses on restoring access to education, health services and promoting livelihood activities.
Specifically, the initiative will build and furnish up to 165 typhoon and earthquake-resilient classrooms, improve the overall physical environment of the schools, provide teaching kits, construct and rehabilitate 10 health facilities, deliver vital medical equipment and supplies.
In terms of livelihood, the program reconstructs 1,000 community stores; assist 100 small and medium enterprises; and work with farmers, fisher folk, micro, small and medium enterprises, chambers of commerce and industry, and other private sector stakeholders to strengthen the climate resilience of communities. (PNA)
CTB/SQM
