For Yolanda survivors: Youth group keeps fight for justice

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — As thousands of Taclobanons flock to different cemeteries in the city during yesterday’s rainy All Saints’ Day, an activist youth group called People Surge lighted three big candles at the mass grave of super typhoon Yolanda victims.

Marissa Cabaljao, secretary general of People Surge, said they wanted to show their indignation for the justice of the Yolanda dead and the poor survivors have been deprived of.

The three candles symbolized three years of injustice that those transferred to resettlement areas have been enduring due to government’s failure to address their basic needs, such as livelihood and water and electricity supply in the resettlement areas, she said.

The mass grave in Tacloban, located inside a private memorial park at the northern Barangay Basper, is the biggest site for about 6,000 victims of Yolanda that slammed the city with a killer storm surge and deadly winds that killed thousands of Taclobanons in just withing three hours of devastation.

Cabaljao said that, until now, hundreds of survivors of the super typhoon—originally living along coastal barangays of Tacloban—continued to suffer with the loss of their houses from the Yolanda destruction.

“We offer these candles for those who did not make it in Yolanda and light them for our families, friends and neighbors who did not make it to this point,” Cabaljao said, as she and her group members recited a prayer during the ceremonial lighting.

She told The Freeman: “These candles may snuff out but our call for justice will continue to burn while both the living and the dead suffer from climate injustice and government negligence.”

The youthful leader of the post Yolanda cause-oriented group claimed that the disaster survivors who were transferred to permanent shelters continue to suffer because of the substandard, cramped and humid housing units, made worse by lack of livelihood.

The farmers who lost their crops after five typhoons in a row-–Yolanda, Ruby, Glenda, Seniang and Nona — continue to agonize on the worsening poverty and hunger in the countryside, she said.

Cabaljao said “faith without action is dead,” and that lighting candles may no longer be enough. “These prayers should translate into action and demand accountability from the government and the top polluters of the world furthering the impacts of this new climate norm.”

The national government, under the administration of President Rody Duterte, has discovered irregularities of the past in the handling of the funds supposedly intended for victims of Yolanda in the entire country. People Surge data showed that only one percent of the 250,000 houses intended for the victims had been occupied.

Cabaljao said her group opposed to the plan of using the unspent Yolanda funds only for the victims of coming natural calamities in the country.

“The funds were gathered and received for the intention of helping Yolanda victims rebuild their lives and livelihood and should strictly be utilized to improve their lots now, especially those who are suffering from poverty and illnesses due to the national government’s failure to provide their needs,” she said.

The People Surge also opposed the construction of tide embankment along the no-build zones in Tacloban City, and Palo and Tanauan towns, which only dislocated the marginalized poor whose livelihood is basically fishing.

“Environmentalist groups also claimed that constructing tide embankment along the coasts is not good for the environment as this ruins its natural condition,” said Cabaljao.

Meanwhile, People Surge is hosting a series of activities—starting yesterday up to November 8—including a conference among survivors and dependents of those who died during and after the storm; a peace forum with National Democratic Front consultants; launching of human rights victims conference focusing on the sufferings of survivors three years after Yolanda; candle-lighting and remembrance of the victims of the calamity; and passage of petitions pertaining to the release of emergency shelter assistance.

On November 7, farmers from Northern Samar—considered third poorest province in the country—will troop to Tacloban City to be with People Surge for an indignation rally against the continued inability of the government to “truly address the farmers’ needs.”

On November 8, the People Surge is set to meet with Duterte and members of his Cabinet wherein the group will present the poor’s real situation and urge the president to finally implement measures that will alleviate the plight of the ravaged poor.

People Surge’s nine-day activities for Yolanda anniversary banner the theme “End three years of poverty, hunger and injustice! Genuine change and accountability for disaster victims!”(FREEMAN)