U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to the American Chamber of Commerce in Manila, Philippines Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Tacloban City, Leyte on Wednesday morning.
The Philippine Information Agency Region 9 over Twitter said Kerry and his staff arrived at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport at 10:25 a.m.
“Secretary Kerry was received and welcomed by DND (Department of National Defense) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin together with Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia, OCD (Office of Civil Defense) Administrator Eduardo del Rosario, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and other guests,” the post said.
Kerry will go around Tacloban City, among the most devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in November to see first-hand the relief operations facilitated by the US military and aid organizations. He is expected to discuss how the US can further contribute to the rehabilitation efforts in the city and other devastated areas.
The US government has donated $55.27 million (P2.45 billion) worth of relief goods and assistance to the country to aid typhoon survivors.
On Tuesday, Kerry met with President Benigno Aquino III and Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.
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