UK’s Princess Anne visits Leyte towns

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — Princess Anne of England yesterday visited this city and met with Leyte Governor Dominic Petilla and mayors of various towns where Save the Children, a UK-based international humanitarian organization, has been giving relief and assistance for Yolanda victims.

The royal visitor landed at the Ormoc Airport at around 10:30 a.m. and immediately proceeded to Barangay Tagaytay of Kananga town to visit the housing site, funded and built by the Save the Children.

She went the organization’s office where she meet its staff who have been in the city immediately after Yolanda and since then worked on education and humanitarian activities.

Princess Anne, garbed in a green cotton long-sleeved top and gray slacks, went to a hotel in the city, where she had a talk with Petilla, City Mayor Edward Codilla and Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin Jr., and Mayors Michael Torrevillas of Matag-ob town, Antonio Martinez of Merida; Jorge Veloso of Villaba and Federico Carolino of Capoocan.

Petilla said he was honored by the visit of the Princess, which put Leyte again in the map of humanitarian efforts as an offshoot to Yolanda.

In Kananga, Mayor Elmer Codilla said Princess Anne went inside two houses, to see its construction, interacted with the recipients and inspected the comfort rooms.

After her meeting in Ormoc, she returned to Kananga to visit the school buildings at Barangay Naghalin, repaired by the Save the Children.  (FREEMAN)