TACLOBAN CITY—Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez on Thursday reported that 12,545 housing units are almost fully constructed for the survivors of Super Typhoon “Yolanda.”
The city was the hardest hit by the typhoon on Nov. 8, 2013, which killed thousands and destroyed houses and other properties.
In a letter, Romualdez thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for the 10,734 houses that are now occupied by the surviving families.
“On behalf of the City of Tacloban, I am personally thanking you for the swift action on building the housing for “Yolanda” victims and relocation program,” she told the President.
Romualdez highlighted the vital role that Michael Diňo of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Visayas played in setting the tone and pace of the rehabilitation efforts, and commended Diňo for hurdling the bureaucratic red tape and mobilizing government agencies.
The mayor also thanked the Department of Public Works and Highways headed by Secretary Mark Villar for providing the water requirements of the relocation sites in cooperation with the Leyte Metropolitan Water District.
As of September 30, the remaining 1,811 housing are under construction, Romualdez said.
Meanwhile, a big event commemorating the Leyte Gulf Landing will be held on October 20 with invited celebrities such as Janella Salvador, I Love Tacloban Band, Succubus, Yssa Romano, Jive Dancers, Tacloband Band and DJ Ken Almaria.
Undersecretary Arthur Tabaquero, the presidential adviser for military affairs, will represent Duterte, and ambassadors of the United States Australia, New Zealand and Japan will grace the 73rd Leyte Landing Commemoration.
The three-day Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 23 to 25, 1944 is the largest naval battle in the Pacific and in history, spanning 100,000 square miles of sea.
The battle fulfilled the famous words of US Gen. Douglas MacArthur, “I shall return,” which he promised after leaving the country to gather support in Australia to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation.