On the 11th anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday vowed to address the unfinished commitments to communities still recovering from the catastrophic storm.
In a statement on Friday, President Marcos acknowledged that some promises made to Yolanda survivors remained unfulfilled. He committed to fully meet these obligations under his administration.
“All unfulfilled commitments made in the past for Yolanda rehabilitation are responsibilities we fully assume,” he said. “Many of these pledges remain unredeemed, and we shall see to it that what the state owed to impacted people and places will be satisfactorily settled.”
The President pointed out that while some delays may not stem from any single fault, the government holds a responsibility to follow through on promised support.
His pledge came as he highlighted ongoing efforts to aid communities hit by recent typhoons, emphasizing that lessons from Yolanda must shape the Philippines’ approach to disaster response.
With the Philippines being one of the most disaster-prone nations globally, President Marcos stressed that there is no room for “ignorance, inaction, and complacency.”
He called for strengthened local government units and empowered communities as essential defenses against calamities.
The chief executive also emphasized the need for rapid relief delivery and long-term resilience in affected areas, urging efforts to help communities “build back better.”
President Marcos also praised the unity of Filipinos and the support of the international community in rebuilding efforts, calling it a reminder that “no man is an island” in times of crisis.
However, he emphasized that it is ultimately the duty of the government to ensure that affected communities receive the promised assistance they are still waiting for.
In November 2013, Typhoon Yolanda, known internationally as Haiyan, struck the Philippines with unparalleled force. It ranked among the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded.
Yolanda made landfall in the Visayas region, producing sustained winds of up to 195 mph and a storm surge that devastated coastal areas, especially Tacloban City.
The storm resulted in over 6,300 fatalities, displaced millions, and inflicted billions in damage to infrastructure and livelihoods.
