National government “snubs” Yolanda commemoration

CEBU, Philippines – The second year commemoration of the Yolanda tragedy is being held today with the pain and sorrow of the survivors still haunting their lives, as they remembered their loved ones who were among the thousands who died in the tragedy.

The city government of Tacloban had invited President Benigno Aquino III and other Malacañang officials but, as of yesterday, got no response whether they will attend the event or not.

Secretary Edwin Lacierda was reportedly supposed to come to Tacloban yesterday but did not. No other explanations from the administration officials were given to his no-show.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, a Samarnon, arrived in Tacloban the other day but only stayed at the airport and met with police officials who were recipients of 40 patrol cars distributed by the national government.

He left for Biliran City via a helicopter where he also distributed eight patrol cars to the police stations in that province. Later, he went to Southern Leyte Province for a similar distribution, but apparently skipped from entering Tacloban to meet with city officials.

The said “snubbing” of national government officials on the Yolanda commemoration in Tacloban was noticeable, and city officials chose not to comment on this matter.

The people, however, wondered why the national officials would not want to join the Yolanda survivors in the event as a show of concern and sympathy.

On the other hand, the embassies of Japan and the US have confirmed attendance of their officials although, as of yesterday, they have not yet given the names of their representatives to the event. Those from the international and local non-government organizations also confirmed their attendance to the ceremonies, as some of them are already in the city since the other day.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, a presidential aspirant, accompanied by some of his senatorial bets, was in Tolosa town in Leyte and had lunch with at least 150 senior citizens there. He told the Tolosanons about the persecution he is now experiencing from the Aquino administration and, without saying much about the Yolanda tragedy, further told them to give their verdict in the 2016 elections.

The Yolanda memorial activities have been set since last night and thousands of survivors have started flocking to the mass grave site in Barangay Basper where thousands of identified bodies were buried, days after the devastation.

Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez was, however, upbeat about the revival of the city.

“You can’t imagine how much the metropolis had risen and progressed after two years,” he said, although he lamented the return of homeless families to the “no-build zone” because the national government had refused to prioritize the completion of permanent shelters for them.

Vice Mayor Sambo Yaokasin claimed that the government has yet to deliver the permanent resettlement of families who lost their houses and who continue to suffer from inadequate food source, livelihood, water and health services.

Yaokasin said there are still close to 1,000 homeless families languishing at bunkhouses, with only 800 families now living in permanent houses in the northern part of the city, out of the 15,731 housing units committed by the City Housing Community Development, through the National Housing Authority.

“So disgusting because it’s already two years, yet these people are still facing challenges of their lives without livelihood, water and housing program which can be done in partnership with the national government,” he said.

Rowena Dilario, 39, who lost her husband and two of her minor children during the storm surge, was anxious about the coming rainy season, when she and her son might be mired in the rotting temporary shelter or bunkhouse.

“When Yolanda destroyed our house along the Magallanes area, I was worried where to go, due to the slow implementation of the government for our transfer to a permanent shelter,” she said.

Contrary to the touted fast recovery and rehabilitation of Tacloban and neighboring towns devastated by Yolanda, Yaokasin said he could not understand why until now Yolanda survivors continue to suffer.

Romualdez, however, insisted that although some of the permanent shelters are now ready for occupancy by families from the bunkhouses, he could not let them go there unless water and electric supply are completed.

“I could not afford to sacrifice their safety. The city government is now on the process of establishing a water source,” he said.

Leyte Governor Dominic Petilla described this year’s commemoration of Yolanda devastation as simple but meaningful, with a message for everyone to keep the real lessons to be always vigilant and prepared for every calamity.

“Let us set aside Yolanda... and move on by making Yolanda a lesson to be a better person and community,” he said.

As the whole world converged to make Leyte and Samar the template of a people’s firm resolve to rise above their sorrow, at least 50,000 candles will be lighted by thousands of Yolanda survivors at the different mass graves in Tacloban and in the towns of Dulag, Tanauan, Tolosa and Palo.

In these places alone, Yolanda killed at least 7,000 people and left hundreds more still missing to date.

In Barangay Anibong in Tacloban, a Holy Mass was celebrated during the unveiling yesterday of a memorial marker, where the remaining bow of a ship that was washed inland at the height of the storm surge is. This scrap of the ship was sold by the Philippine Precious Metal Resources to the city government for P120,000. It was later developed into a landmark at a cost of P2 million, as a reminder of what kind of devastation Yolanda did to the city. —/NSA (FREEMAN)