Memorial markers unveiled in Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Politicians gathered in this city yesterday for the second anniversary of Yolanda, the super typhoon that claimed the lives of more than 6,000 people and destroyed billions worth of crops and property.

There was no representative from the Aquino administration, but the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay, a presidential aspirant, joined the people of Leyte in the commemorative activities.

Binay, his running mate Sen. Gringo Honasan, and their senatorial slate attended the commemoration.

Two memorial markers were unveiled: the shipwreck marker at Anibong district, which was a reminder of the thousands who perished in Tacloban when Yolanda hit the city on Nov. 8, 2013; and another marker at the Astrodome where at least 8,000 evacuees survived a deadly storm surge.

Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, who had expressed disappointment in the national government’s slow implementation of the rehabilitation program despite million of dollars in financial aid from countries around the world, still thanked President Aquino for the help extended to the people of Tacloban.

“We would like to thank the President, in behalf of the city government of Tacloban, for all his help to Taclobanons during our desperate moments. I apologized that sometimes we said poignant words because we are only human and because we were hurt,” Romualdez said before a crowd of survivors after he unveiled the shipwreck marker.

He also said the Anibong memorial marker would be the symbol for the whole world to unite and work hard for the future generation.

Binay, meanwhile, said he was glad to see the happy faces of the people but he felt the pain in their hearts as they remembered the tragedy.

Binay lamented that the Aquino administration could not fast-track the rehabilitation and recovery program in Tacloban and in Eastern Visayas.

“I cannot understand why until now, only 27 percent of the money were released for the rehabilitation projects. As then chairman of the National Housing Authority, we worked on the basis of the money given to us,” Binay said before the shipwreck marker.

Binay evaded questions from journalists if his attendance in the Yolanda commemoration signaled his alliance with the Romualdezes and the Marcoses.

“I’m not for politics here,” the Vice President said.

Romualdez admitted he has to help endorse the presidential bid of Binay because the Binay family is close to his heart, aside from the help Tacloban had been receiving from Makati City government.

Vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also expressed disappointment that it has been two years since Yolanda hit the Visayas but the Senate has yet to receive a status report on the donations from countries and humanitarian agencies for typhoon victims.

“That is why we cannot tell the people because we don’t know what happened to the money the government received,” he said

He also noted that from the housing program alone for affected areas, the national government promised 250,000 units but only 17,000 were completed, including 1,000 in Tacloban.

Foreign dignitaries, who were among those who helped in the recovery and rehabilitation operations, were also present in the event. They admitted working hand in hand to implement their aid for Yolanda survivors.

Michael Hasper, deputy chief of mission of the German embassy, expressed hope the 178 million euros donated to the Philippine government and the 144 million euros from the private sector in Germany would benefit the typhoon victims.

Toto Waspodo, minister counselor of the Embassy of Indonesia, also promised to take care of the Philippines and other neighboring countries in Asia by helping them in times of disaster and calamities.

Meanwhile, a day before the second commemoration of the wrath of Yolanda, six skeletons were unearthed at the coastal community Barangay Manlurip in San Jose district of the city.

The remains were believed to be among the thousands who died during the super typhoon. But Romualdez said this has to be verified first through DNA tests.