Emirates Red Crescent rebuilds schools in the Philippines

Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) inaugurate eight schools in the Samar province of the Philippines. Wam

Funding from the Emirates Red Crescent has allowed eight schools in Eastern Samar in the Philippines to reopen after being destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan two years ago.

According to Al Ittihad, The National's Arabic-language sister publication, the schools were rebuilt at a cost of Dh7m to accommodate 2,090 students. The rehabilitation work included 33 classrooms, 32 health facilities, 7 indoor playgrounds and 3 auditoriums. Outer fences were also built for six of the schools and all the classrooms have been fully equipped.

In total, 18 schools have been rebuilt following the typhoon at a total cost of Dh27m to accommodate 9,828 students in 102 classrooms, 15 indoor playgrounds, 12 auditoriums in addition to health facilities and computer labs.

The inauguration was celebrated at San Antonio High School where folkloric dances were held and the vice-governor of Eastern Samar gave a speech thanking the UAE and the ERC for generously allocating 10 million dollars to rebuild the Philippines.