TACLOBAN CITY- The United States government through its relief agency, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) formally turned over 24 classrooms on Wednesday (Sept.7) to four public schools in Leyte hit by supertyphoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013.
The 24 classrooms donated to the four schools were part of the 310 classrooms committed by the US government to the Philippines, particularly Leyte which was the hard-hit province when the world’s strongest typhoon to hit inland on November 8, 2013.
Of the promised number of classrooms, 253 have been turned over.
The remaining classrooms are expected to be completed and turn over by the USAID December this year.
The US government donated nearly $143 million to the country in the aftermath of Yolanda.
The new school buildings will benefit 1,783 students enrolled at the Salvador Elementary School (SES) in Tanauan town which has 275 students and received three classrooms; Alegria National High School (ANHS) in Julita town with 195 students and six classrooms donated; San Joaquin National High School (SJNHS) in Palo which has 615 students and received eight classrooms and Dagami South Central School (DSCS) in Dagami town which has 698 students and received seven classrooms.
Erica Rounsefell, USAID office of education deputy chief, led in the turnover of the 24 classrooms.
Principals of the beneficiaries accepted the donated classrooms joined by Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla and provincial schools superintendent Ronilo Al Firmo.
In her speech during the turn over ceremony held at the DSCS, which has the biggest student population at 698 students among the four school beneficiaries, Rounsefell said that the donated classrooms was part of her government’s commitment for the country to recover from Yolanda and underscore the importance played by education in uplifting poverty.
“The priority we give to building classrooms underline the important role of education in reducing poverty. It affirms our conviction that education is a basic human rights to which everyone should have access,” Rounsefell said.
Nilda Tondo, principal of the DSCS, said that they feel “blessed and grateful” for the seven classrooms donated by the USAID.
“We will be forever grateful to the USAID for donating us these classrooms which will be used by Grades 5 and 6 pupils,” Tondo said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA with MEL CASPE)
