Red Cross completes 52 classrooms in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 30 (PNA) -– The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has completed the reconstruction of 52 classrooms in Tanauan town and this city as part of the humanitarian organization’s assistance for typhoon-affected Leyte province.

The PRC, led by its chairman Richard Gordon turned over 52 classrooms in Leyte on November 27.

The ceremonial turnover of the reconstructed and repaired 42 classrooms for Tanauan was held at Tanauan II Central Elementary School, Canramos village. The said school received two-storey building with six classrooms.

According to Gordon, getting children back to school after Yolanda was the immediate response of Philippine Red Cross after the emergency assistance. The Red Cross is giving priority to education because it is the key to progress and prosperity.

The reconstructed classrooms included the classic Gabaldon building. The said prototype was for Elementary and High Schools designed by William Parsons. In the 19th century, Assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon allotted budget for the prototypes thus it was named “Gabaldon buildings.”

The classrooms were turned over to Tanauan Mayor Pelagio Tecson, school principal Geraldine Mangaliman, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla represented by Aurora Villarente, Department of Education officials, Tanauan and village officials.

The other schools included Tanauan National High School with 11 classrooms, Tanauan School of Craftmanship with 10.

These classrooms were made possible with the support of the Japan Red Cross represented by Mari Morimoto in the turnover.

The turnover of classrooms in Sagkahan National High School and Sagkahan Elementary School in Tacloban City was held in the afternoon of November 27. Both schools were given 10 classrooms.

On February 10, 2014 exactly three months after the storm, Philippine Red Cross built 166 transitional classrooms donated by the Chinese Red Cross and Red Crescent Society. The 166 classrooms were constructed in 40 days and spread in Tacloban City and Leyte towns.

For Leyte, PRC has already built 254 classrooms just 48 classrooms short of its 302 target in its recovery program.

Gordon added that construction of new classrooms, classrooms repair and rehabilitation is just one of the various projects undertaken by the Red Cross under its recovery program.

PRC and partners have also given unconditional cash grant, psychosocial support to the typhoon survivors, built shelter, provided livelihood assistance, constructed and rehabilitated health facilities, constructed water and sanitation facilities in schools, aside from emergency food and non-food relief items among others.

Tecson is grateful that PRC was among the first that immediately assisted the town and its people. The mayor was a former board of director of the PRC Leyte Chapter.

A photo exhibit that showcases the accomplishments of the Philippine Red Cross Haiyan Operations was on display at the Tanauan II Central School starting on November 27 until December 5.

It will be transferred to the three other schools recipient of the donation before the photo exhibit will be transferred to Sagkahan National High School in Tacloban City.

Two years after the typhoon, Gordon reported that PRC has already built 66,976 houses, provided livelihood assistance to 59,218 families, repaired and constructed 38 health facilities, provided 34 schools with water and sanitation facilities, and rehabilitated and constructed 418 classrooms, in total to Yolanda-affected municipalities in the central Philippines. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ/EGR