05 July 2007
By Ephraim Aguilar
Inquirer Southern Luzon
LEGAZPI CITY—UNITED STATES AMBASsador Kristie Kenney pledged $5-million in typhoon reconstruction assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) during her visit here yesterday marking Philippine-American Friendship Day.
Kenney said the money would be used to fund humanitarian programs to be implemented by the International Organization for Migration and Save the Children, both nongovernment organizations.
She added that the funds would also be used to construct 1,000 more houses and 10 community centers for villagers displaced by the series of strong typhoons that hit the region last year, as well as water sanitation projects.
The typhoon assistance agreement between the Philippine government and the USAID was signed during a short ceremony attended by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, Camarines Sur Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte, and Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Alicia Bala.
Kenney, wearing jeans and rubber shoes, said in her speech that July 4, which was also the 231st US Independence Day, should be celebrated by continuing to build the friendship between the two countries.
Optimistic, resilient
She praised Bicolanos for being “very optimistic and resilient” despite the series of disasters that hit the region.
On behalf of Project Handclasp, a California-based charity group, Kenney and US Navy Vice Admiral Crowder, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, turned over relief goods to the Simon of Cyrene Children’s Rehabilitation and Development Foundation for distribution to communities in Bicol.
The goods included medical supplies, clothing, beddings, food, kitchen supplies, sewing machines, toys and sports equipment.
Kenney and Crowder also cut the ceremonial ribbon for 35 new houses built for displaced families at the Honest Anislag Transition Center.
The houses were build by 50 US Navy sailors in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Daughters of Charity, and Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul.
Villafuerte acknowledged the assistance of the US government to Bicol, calling it “Philippine-American Friendship Day in action.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol said only 30 percent of housing and relocation needs in calamity-hit areas have been met so far.
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