MANILA, Philippines - Survivors of the supertyphoon Yolanda in Tacloban City November last year on Monday requested the national government to suspend the no-build zone policy until authorities clarifies its implementation.
One of the survivors, Jose Abanio,70, said that they could not feel the government relief efforts and the promised livelihood programs.
"Binibigyan kami ng dalawang kilong bigas at ilang noodles. Pero ilang araw lang yan ubos na. Kawawa talaga kalagayan namin doon," Abanio said as he and other survivors trooped to the main office of the Department and Interior and Local Government in Quezon City.
Abanio said around 10,000 families or 60,000 individuals have been affected by the no-build policy.
"Magugutom talaga kami kasi hanggang kailan kami aasa sa mga bigay na hindi naman sapat sa amin?" said Abanio, who used to have a eatery located within the 40 meter no build zone in Tacloban City.
The survivors, who belonged to the group People Surge, sought an audience with DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero regarding for a clarification on the no build, no dwell policy in Region 8.
However, Panadero was out of the office so they were received by Director Manuel Gotis.
During the meeting, the survivors who were assisted by fisherfolk group, Pamalakaya, presented their concerns regarding the matter to Gotis.
"Nakakalungkot talaga kapag na kakarinig tayo ng ganyan. We have to further study their concerns with the Region 8 office," Gotis said, noting that the markers have been placed in the coastal areas by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
For his part, Gerry Corpuz, secretary general of Pamalakaya, said they would want to schedule another meeting but this time with Secretary Mar Roxas.
"We also appeal to the DILG to instruct city government of Tacloban and the municipal government of Leyte, Eastern Samar, Western Samar, and Norther Samar to refrain or back off from pursuing the no-build zone, no-dwell zone policy in their respective localities," Corpuz said.
Earlier, Malacañang turned down the one of the requests of the Yolanda survivors to give them P40,000 to start a business of their own.