TOL VIEWS 

Nov. 8, 2023 marks the 10th anniversary when super typhoon Yolanda hit the country and wreaked havoc in communities in the Philippines but most extensively devastating Tacloban, Leyte. Yolanda claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions of families, and damaged properties worth billions of pesos. True enough, it was one of the worst calamities to ever hit the Philippines – one which scarred for life countless minds and hearts. 

I was the chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) when typhoon Yolanda struck. Yolanda’s onslaught left horrifying memories. The pictures and videos taken after the storm subsided were unimaginably heartbreaking.  More than the families and properties that Yolanda crippled, there were also young dreams and aspirations which lost all hope. 

Being located at the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is a regular stop for super typhoons and other severe weather events. The severity of the impact of Super Typhoon Yolanda was, however, somehow distinct because it nearly wiped away Tacloban and neighboring towns in Leyte’s map. While commemorating Yolanda brings back bitter memories and tears especially for those who lost loved ones, the Filipino nation is also reminded of how easily nature can take revenge for man’s misuse and abuse of her gifts. We do not look back only to recall what happened, but also to reiterate the important lessons of disaster preparedness we often have to learn the hard way. 

As a disaster preparedness advocate, I always say: Preparedness is half the way to safety.  We reiterate time and again the importance of preparedness whether during natural calamities or man-made emergencies in safeguarding lives and properties.  This is why whenever I go around localities, I ensure to instill to local government units (LGUs) how important disaster preparedness is. Our work in the Senate is likewise geared towards the creation of enabling laws that build and strengthen the capacity of national and local governments to meet the challenges confronted during and after every catastrophe.  There is indeed a pressing need to  intensify awareness and appreciation of disaster preparedness and response on a whole of community approach. 

However sad our memories of Yolanda may be, and as we are a happy and hopeful people, we  look at the future with optimism. I had the opportunity to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Yolanda in Tacloban, and seeing them now, I cannot help but pay tribute to the Taclobanons for their resiliency and fortitude. I invite the nation to remember and pray for those we lost to Typhoon Yolanda. May the Filipino nation never ever have to see another chapter as sad and painful as this in our history.