House Speaker Martin Romualdez marked the 11th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda’s devastation by calling for continued vigilance against climate change, which has led to increasingly severe weather events affecting the Philippines.
Leyte was one of the areas hardest hit by Yolanda. Romualdez, who represents the province, highlighted the House of Representatives’ commitment to legislative actions that encourage climate resilience to protect Filipinos from future calamities.
“The tragedy that occurred during Yolanda should not be repeated. No matter how strong the storm is, we must make sure our citizens are prepared. We must be vigilant against climate change to protect our people from falling victim to such tragedies,” Romualdez said partly in Tagalog.
In Tacloban, he said, a significant development that has contributed to the safety of the community is the construction of a giant seawall. This massive structure, designed to protect Taclobanons from storm surges similar to those experienced during Yolanda, stands as a physical shield for the city.
“This seawall brings peace to the hearts of Taclobanons because we know that there is extra protection against potential typhoons,” he noted. Romualdez said the giant seawall was built in 2016 and is officially named the Leyte Tide Embankment Project..
The 38.12-kilometer structure, stretching from Tacloban City to nearby Tanauan town, stands 30 meters high and is aimed at protecting people, houses, and buildings from storm surges.
In the wake of Yolanda, which claimed thousands of lives and destroyed homes and infrastructure across the Visayas region, Romualdez reflected on the hardships endured by his constituents.
Yolanda, one of the strongest on record, left Leyte and other parts of Eastern Visayas in ruins, with many residents still grappling with the aftermath years later.
“As public servants, it is our duty to ensure the safety of every Filipino). Our commitment to address climate change should continue to inspire us to craft legislation that can shield our people from adverse effects of any calamity,” he stated.
Romualdez calls for vigilance vs climate change on Yolanda anniversary
