U.S. sailors from the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and Philippine civilians unload relief supplies to support Operation Damayan in Guiuan, Philippines, Nov. 17, 2013. The George Washington Strike Group is supporting the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade to assist the Philippine government in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Beverly Lesonik
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Eleven months after super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) devastated some parts of the Visayas, the United States reassured those affected by the cyclone of its continued help in relief and reconstruction work.
In a statement, the US Embassy in Manila said the US government continues to partner with the Philippines on recovery and rebuilding.
“The projects we see today are born from the strong partnership between the US and Philippine governments. As we work together in planting the seeds of recovery, we also direct our efforts toward ensuring that you will be stronger and better equipped to face future disasters,” US Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development Mission Director Gloria Steele said.
Overall, the US Embassy said the US government’s support to the Philippines for Yolanda recovery stands at about $142.5 million.
Last week, Steele led the turnover of two school buildings at the Tacloban National Agricultural School (TNAS).
The schools can withstand winds up to 360 kph and a magnitude-8.5 earthquake.
Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez thanked the American people for their ongoing support. Tacloban was one of the areas hit hardest by Yolanda, which left more than 6,000 dead last November.
“We will no longer be scared of typhoons and other calamities because the new classrooms are stronger than the ones we occupied,” the US Embassy statement quoted eighth-grade student Angelica Dupa as saying.
Rebuild project
Meanwhile, the USAID Rebuild project will continue, where the US government working with Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble will help reconstruct and restock 1,000 sari-sari stores.
“Store owners will be trained in basic store management and microcredit,” the embassy said.
Meanwhile, Steele also went to Ormoc, Leyte to launch the US government’s project “Preventing Trafficking in Persons through Sustainable Livelihood Recovery for Typhoon Affected People.”
The project aims to reduce the vulnerability of typhoon-affected populations to human trafficking. (MNS)