MANILA, Philippines - Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II exposed his failure as a manager and leader in dealing with the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) in 2013, a spokesperson for Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday.
Rico Quicho, Binay’s spokesman for political affairs, made the remark in reaction to President Aquino’s claim that Roxas’ performance during Yolanda was proof of the latter’s leadership ability.
“Yolanda has shown to the people the extent, or rather the limits, of Secretary Roxas’ executive capability. He was everywhere and nowhere at the same time,” Quicho said.
He said Roxas, who recently resigned as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, should not evade questions on the failure of the administration to improve the lives of the poor and deliver basic services in Yolanda-hit areas.
He noted that about 130,000 families are still homeless and still live in tent cities and bunkhouses in Tacloban City and other areas devastated by Yolanda two years ago based on the report of Social Watch Philippines (SWP).
Based on the SWP report, Quicho said Aquino has not yet approved the release of P54 billion for housing resettlement.
“Twenty months after Yolanda, the government has not yet completed building resilient permanent homes for 205,000 families that were rendered homeless,” Quicho said.