Tacloban celebrates 7th year as Highly Urbanized City

CEBU, Philippines – Tacloban City, showcasing its phenomenal rise from the devastation of super typhoon Yolanda two years ago, on Friday celebrated its 7th anniversary as a Highly Urbanized City, with a thanksgiving Mass, festive activities and awarding ceremonies held at the City Hall’s Kanhuraw Hill.

Mayor Alfred Romualdez and wife Councilor Cristina led city government officials and employees in celebrating Tacloban’s 7th HUC Day, which was also culminated with Christmas party.

Romualdez earlier issued an executive order declaring December 18 as a local holiday in Tacloban, and suspending of work in all government and private entities and institutions, “except for those involved in the maintenance of peace and order, disaster risk management, health, sanitation and traffic management.”

The mayor said the 7th HUC Day was also a time to recognize the contribution of some businesses and taxpayers in rebuilding the Yolanda-ravaged city to what it is now.

The resilient Tacloban, after the Yolanda devastation in 2013, had revived its economy from the rubbles of disaster, with the help and contribution of investors and business establishments, which had the conviction that the city can start all over again, said Romualdez.

The city government, in acknowledgment of their contribution to the revitalization of Tacloban, conferred awards to outstanding business and taxpayers, as well as recognized the LGU retirees.

Tacloban’s 10 Outstanding Businesses awardees were: Leyeco II Electric Cooperative; Fairlane Automotive Ventures; Hotel Alejandro; San Miguel Brewery; City Savings Bank; Ocho Seafoods and Grills; Badminton Republic; Joebz Computer Sales and Services; Dynasty Square Realty and Development; and Renato Ramirez Meat Vendor.

The 2015 Outstanding Real Property taxpayers awards went to: Robinson’s Land Corporation; SM Prime Holdings Inc; and HEVA Management Corp.(for corporate commercial land and building category); Coca-Cola Bottler’s Phil., Inc; and Philippine National Oil Company (industrial land and building); Samuel Chu Ngo; and Elsa Uy (individual commercial land and building); Edwin Pfleider and Rommel Dy Chua et.al. (individual residential land and building); and Ben Sin Ong (individual agricultural land).

Presidential Proclamation 1637 converting Tacloban into a HUC was signed into law on October 4, 2008, which was then ratified via a plebiscite on December 18, 2008 officially making Tacloban, from a component city, into the country’s 34th HUC.

Romualdez said Tacloban, from then on, was on an economic competitive level with other HUCs until Yolanda struck. The city and its people, however, showed its resiliency and strong faith in God—with the help of international organizations, foreign governments, and other non-government organizations—resulting in its remarkable rise from the ruins, he declared. —/TISAT (FREEMAN)