US supports trade fair featuring products of Yolanda survivors from Eastern Visayas

104 entrepreneurs from Eastern Visayas showcased their products in the five-day Bahandi Eastern Visayas Trade Exhibit in SM Megamall through the joint support of the U.S. 

Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).  Total sales amounted to Php 26.2 million, exceeding DTI’s goal of Php 15 million. 

The trade exhibit, with the theme, “Promoting Pride, Inspiring Innovation, and Celebrating Change,” featured products developed by local entrepreneurs from Samar, Leyte and Biliran Provinces, such as local foods, toys, housewares, decors, and furniture.

“This event symbolizes the resilience, perseverance, hard work, and creativity of the region’s entrepreneurs who survived the most difficult challenges brought by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013,” said Mr. Lehrer. “The U.S. government takes great pride in partnering with micro, small, and medium enterprises to help restore livelihoods and create jobs, fueling the growth needed to rebuild the local economy.”

To date, USAID has supported 1,417 entrepreneurs in the Typhoon Yolanda-affected areas of Eastern Visayas through skills improvement, market promotion, entrepreneurial training and provision of equipment and facilities.

These activities are part of the U.S. government’s $143 million assistance to help Typhoon Yolanda survivors recover from the catastrophe. USAID is constructing 310 classrooms, 12 health facilities, 30 agri-support facilities and 1,029 sari-sari stores (small community kiosks). USAID is also restoring people’s livelihoods by training and providing supplies to 3,215 farmers, and 6,920 fisherfolk. 

The United States Agency for International Development is the lead U.S. government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. In the Philippines, USAID partners with the national government to create a more stable, prosperous and well-governed nation.For more information, visit http://www.usaid.gov/philippines or email infoph@usaid.gov. (US Embassy Manila)