UAE Turns Over School Buildings in Yolanda-Ravaged Samar Towns
Samar Vice Governor Stephen James Tan and Adviser to the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates and Emirates Red Crescent chairman Dr. Hamdan Al Mazrouei cut the ribbon during the turnover of school buildings at the Basey 1 Central Elementary School in Basey, Samar. (photo by Ricky Bautista, InterAksyon.com)
CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines — The United Arab Emirates has turned over 10 newly-built school buildings in towns of Samar and Eastern Samar provinces that were damaged by super typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.
The school buildings were built in the first of a two-phase project worth $10 million (around P400 million) the UAE is implementing through the Emirates Red Crescent that began November last year and is scheduled for completion in May.
The towns that received the 10 school buildings from Dr. Hamdan Al Mazrouei, Adviser to the Crown Prince and ERC chairman, were Basey and Marabut in Samar, and Lawaan and Giporlos in Eastern Samar.
Phase 2 of the project involves repair and construction work at the Samar Provincial Hospital in this city, which the UAE delegation inspected over the weekend, and eight more schools. Mr. Fahed Bin Sultan, ERC deputy secretary general said.
In Basey, Al Mazrouei handed over the symbolic keys to the Can-abay Elementary School in Barangay Can-abay, the Basey National High School, the San Fernando Elementary School in Barangay San Fernando, and Basey 1 Central Elementary School.
Sol Abiertas, principal of the Basey 1 Central Elementary School, said they were prioritized because it is one of only two major evacuation centers whenever a strong storm hits the area.
When Yolanda struck, the school served as temporary home to hundreds of displaced residents.
For the Basey 1 Central Elementary School, the ERC constructed three school buildings with 10 wide classrooms, covered courts, comfort rooms and pathways. School supplies were also distributed to students.
In Marabut, buildings were turned over to the Osmena National High School and Logero Elementary School.
In Eastern Samar, the recipients were Lawaan School of Craftsmanship and Home Development and Lawaan Central Elementary School, both in Lawaan town; the Giporlos National Trade School and Malabag National High School, in Giporlos.
All national high schools also have air-conditioned computer rooms with at least 20 computers, said Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, who with her brother Vice Governor Stephen James Tan and several board members accompanied the UAE delegation.
Tan said some of the schools were also given theaters, covered courts, science and computer laboratories, vocational training centers, and stages.
The project will benefit 7,738 elementary and high school students from the two provinces.
Along with these donations to the education sector, vital health facilities were also inaugurated. The ERC (has also) plans in place to implement its healthcare and educational projects in the affected areas, ERC secretary general Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi Al Falahi said.Â