Manila, Philippines – United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) Chief Strategy Officer Carla Koppell will visit the
Philippines October 1-2, to reinforce the U.S. government’s commitment to help
Typhoon Yolanda survivors build back better.
Ms. Koppell will visit Tacloban City on October 2 to inaugurate education
and health facilities with local government officials, led by Mayor Alfred
Romualdez. She will be accompanied by the new USAID Philippines Mission Director
Susan Brems. This visit marks Dr. Brems’ first official trip outside Manila.
Ms. Koppell, Dr. Brems, and Mayor Romualdez will launch a newly constructed
five-classroom school building in Panalaron Central School, a tuberculosis
treatment center, and a birthing facility at the Diit Health Center. They will
also visit a community where USAID’s U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance,
in partnership with Catholic Relief Services, constructed transitional shelters
for 130 relocated households from 17 vulnerable, high-risk coastal barangays in
Tacloban City.
To date, the U.S. government has provided approximately $143 million to
help the Philippines respond to, and recover from, the devastating effects of
Typhoon Yolanda. In addition to the humanitarian assistance, USAID supports
rehabilitation and recovery activities in the typhoon-affected areas,
particularly in Leyte Province. USAID assistance to these areas restores access
to education, health services, and livelihood activities. This includes
reconstructing damaged classrooms and improving the overall physical environment
of schools, hospitals, rural health units and market trading centers, as well as
furnishing classroom furniture, teaching kits, and hospital equipment.