USAID turns over two school buildings to Palo Elem. School

PALO, LEYTE, Philippines – The United States Agency for International Development had turned over two school buildings to the San Jose Elementary School, in this town.

USAID Chief Human Capital Officer Elizabeth Kolmstetter visited this town and led the inauguration and turnover of the school buildings, funded by the USAID at a cost of P12 million.

Kolmstetter said the buildings, one which has four classrooms while the other has two, are designed to withstand strong winds and earthquakes.

The six classrooms are “furnished with student chairs, steel cabinets, blackboards, fire extinguishers, and teachers’ kits, desks and chairs,” she said.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, who attended the ceremony, said the USAID project was a big help in the rehabilitation of the province, especially in the education sector.

Petilla said more than 200 students from the San Jose Elementary School will benefit from the USAID school buildings, after attending their classes in makeshift classrooms when Yolanda destroyed their buildings.

Kolmstetter, in her speech, said, “USAID is constructing more than 200 classrooms and 10 health facilities in Leyte province. We’ll help to construct these facilities, and support your agriculture and fisheries sector, and to your public markets, your boat landings and everything in between.”