TACLOBAN CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the 10th anniversary commemoration of super typhoon "Yolanda" here on Wednesday, November 8.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (center) leads the 10th anniversary commemoration of super typhoon 'Yolanda' on Nov. 8, 2023, in Tacloban City. (PNA)

Marcos still questions the number of fatalities 10 years after during the devastation on November 8, 2013.

"To this day, we still do not know the scope of our loss because we grieve and we mourn those of our dead but we must keep a special place in our hearts for those who are uncounted," said Marcos.

"Up to now, we say 6,000 casualties but we do not know that for sure. We are certain that there were more but for whatever reason, their deaths have not yet been recorded," he added.

The Chief Executive urged survivors to remember the unrecorded and unaccounted deaths.

"Keep a special place for those who have not been known to have gone but we know in our hearts, we know the loss that we feel. Let us always pray for them," he said.

"To the survivors, continue to move forward. We salute your indomitable spirit and character," Marcos added.

Marcos thanked other countries, government, and non-government organizations who helped the city during the response and recovery phase.

"It is impossible to overstate how important it is to us what you did for us after Yolanda and the years subsequent to Yolanda where you never left us and stayed with us for years until you could see that we had recovered and for that we owe you a debt of gratitude that we will not be able to repay," he said.

Marcos reminisced about his experience helping this city in relief efforts and clearing operations.

The President was joined in the event by Senators Mark Villar and Francis Tolentino, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Mayor Alfred Romualdez here, Cabinet members, and foreign dignitaries.

A Mass was celebrated at the Tacloban City Convention Center to remember thousands of victims.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) recorded 14,433 displaced families in this city, most of whom from nearby coastal towns, who sought refuge in the convention center, one of the few structures that survived the devastating impact of Yolanda.

In 2015, a marker was unveiled at the convention center where at least 8,000 evacuees survived the deadly storm surge.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,951 Yolanda housing beneficiaries received Certificates of Award from the National Housing Authority (NHA) in seven Yolanda Permanent Housing Sites here – Greendale Residence 1, Guadalupe Heights (1-3), Saint Francis Village (1-2), North Hill Arbours (1-2), New Hope Village, Villa Diana, and Villa Sofia.

The city government said that this year's commemoration is a celebration of life and thanksgiving to all the organizations that helped this city, including countries, individuals, and organizations, recover from the disaster.