Visayas on the road to normalcy: army official

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Following the relief and rehabilitation effort launched by the Philippine government and international organizations, a military official said today that life in areas devastated by typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) may soon go back to normal.

"The darkest hours are over," said Lt. Gen. Roy Deveraturda, commander of the military's Central Command based in Cebu City in central Philippines.

Deveraturda said he believes that relief operations have already reached all the victims even in remote areas.

He said roads and bridges are already cleared of debris and are already passable, airports and seaports are operational, and that military and police forces have been able to restore law and order.

Deveraturda said public markets, hardware stores, gasoline stations, and food stands are already open. Water service in some affected areas are back along with mobile phone services.

He said the Department of Trade and Industry will deploy rolling stores today while banks will soon provide mobile Automated Teller Machines in areas devastated by the typhoon.

"The opening of (business) establishments will help set us on the path to normalcy. We cannot say (the situation) is already normal but the road to normalcy should be paved by these actions," he said.

Deveraturda said at least 5,000 soldiers are directly involved in the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts in central Philippines.

Considered the strongest typhoon to make landfall this year, typhoon Haiyan struck central Philippines on Nov. 8, killing close to 4,000 people and damaging billions of pesos worth of infrastructure and crops.