USAID will construct new school buildings that are typhoon-resilient and can withstand future natural disasters.

USAID/Philippines

On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Yolanda (internationally named Haiyan) struck the Visayas region of the Philippines. It was the strongest typhoon to make landfall in recorded history. The typhoon traversed the islands of Samar and Leyte and other islands before exiting the Philippines, demolishing most of the public infrastructure that lay in its path. The storm destroyed nearly 90 percent of the homes in Tacloban, the largest city in the affected area, which had a pre-storm population of 220,000 people. The Government of the Philippines estimates that recovery will cost $8.1 billion.

Overall, USG support is estimated at approximately $142.5 million to help the people of the Philippines respond to, and recover from, the devastating effects of Typhoon Yolanda. On June 9, 2014, USAID/Philippines launched USAID Rebuild, a multi-component effort funded by the U.S. Government to support reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in Typhoon Yolanda- affected areas.

ACTIVITIES
Implemented in close partnership with the Government of the Philippines and local communities, USAID Rebuild focuses on restoring access to education, health services and promoting livelihood activities, and providing technical assistance to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery.

Education
USAID will build and furnish up to 165 typhoon and earthquake-resilient classrooms, improve the overall physical environment of the schools and provide teaching kits. This will be implemented in close coordination with the Department of Education and local government units to address the need for permanent, resilient school buildings in Yolanda-affected areas.

Health
USAID will work with the Department of Health and local government units to construct and rehabilitate up to 10 health facilities in Tacloban City, Tabon-Tabon, Burauen and other municipalities of Leyte Province. USAID will deliver vital medical equipment and supplies to help meet the most critical health needs of the affected population.

Livelihood
Through USAID Rebuild, USAID will work with farmers, fisherfolk, micro, small and medium enterprises, chambers of commerce and industry, and other private sector stakeholders to strengthen the climate resilience of communities, while laying the foundation for long-term economic growth.

To support agriculture development, USAID will:

• Train and provide tools to up to 3,000 farmers to produce short-term food and alternative crops using climate-adaptive technologies.
• Conduct a crop diversification study to identify suitable alternative commercial crops for long-term agricultural rehabilitation.

To support aquaculture development, USAID will:

• Provide tools and training to up to 5,000 fisherfolk on high value mariculture and aquaculture production introducing climate-adaptive growing technologies.
• Prepare a High-Value Aquaculture Industry Development and Marketing Plan to promote a more lucrative and sustainable local aquaculture sector.

To support these agriculture and aquaculture activities, USAID will:

• Construct up to 30 infrastructure facilities such as warehouses, trading centers, boat landings and public markets.
• Provide up to 70 groups/associations with farming and post-harvest equipment such as tractors, dryers, shellers, chippers, live fish transporters and processing equipment.

To support recovery of local businesses especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), USAID will:

• Reconstruct and/or restock inventories of up to 1,000 sari-sari stores in partnership with private companies Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble to help restore livelihoods of micro-entrepreneurs and stabilize supply of basic consumer goods in affected communities.
• Assist up to 100 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and/or industry associations to re-establish their businesses through skills, management and entrepreneurial seminars; provision of common service equipment and value-chain improvement activities.
• Provide co-funding and technical assistance to Leyte and Eastern Visayas chambers of commerce to enhance their participation in economic rehabilitation planning and implementation.

Assistance to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR)
USAID will provide technical support to assist President Aquino’s Office of the Presidential Assistant for Recovery and Rehabilitation to coordinate and implement the Government of the Philippines’ recovery efforts in all affected areas.