Senate urged to pass ‘Yolanda’ Memorial Bill

SIX years after Typhoon “Yolanda” (with international name “Haiyan”) struck, Malacañang on Friday renewed its call for the creation of “safe, adaptive and resilient communities” to reduce the risks of climate change

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo made this remark the day of the commemoration of the sixth anniversary the super typhoon that had left thousands dead and many more injured.

“The Office of the President recognizes that natural hazards have become the new normal in the 21st century, and therefore, we must continue to be relentless in creating safe, adaptive and resilient communities. It is our collective responsibility,” he added.

“Once again, we honor the sacrifices of those in the frontline agencies of the government, the different organizations, the many volunteers, and the unnamed and anonymous Juan de la Cruz, who responded during one of the most difficult times our country faced,” he said.

Panelo noted that Yolanda has taught the government “a hard lesson in public service.”

Meanwhile, members of the House of Representatives have urged the Senate to pass a bill declaring November 8 of every year as the “Yolanda Commemoration Day” in Eastern Visayas.

Majority Leader Martin Romualdez of Leyte and Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Romualdez, authors of House Bill (HB) 4960 or the“Yolanda Commemoration Day,”issued the appeal in time for the country’s observance of the sixth anniversary of super typhoon Yolanda’s (international name: Haiyan) destruction.

HB 4960 seeks to declare a special nonworking holiday in Tacloban City and the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Northern, Western and Eastern Samar “to honor the memory of all who perished” during the onslaught of Yolanda on Nov. 8, 2013.