House Speaker Martin Romualdez (PPAB)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Friday, Nov. 8, called on Filipinos to maintain vigilance against climate change as the country commemorates the 11th anniversary of Super Typhoon "Yolanda".

In a statement, Romualdez sasays the House of Representatives is committed to pursuing legislative measures that will harness climate resilience to protect the country from increasingly severe weather events.

“Hindi na dapat maulit pa ang trahedyang naganap noong panahon ng Yolanda. Gaano man kalakas ang bagyong darating, dapat nating siguruhin na nakahanda ang ating mga kababayan,” the House leader said.

(The tragedy that occurred during the time of Yolanda should not happen again. No matter how strong the next storm is, we must ensure that our countrymen are prepared.)

“We must be vigilant against climate change to protect our people from falling victim to such tragedies,” he added.

Yolanda, also known by its international name "Haiyan", is considered one of the world’s most powerful storms on record.

Based on government figures, more than 6,000 people died as a result of its onslaught. But the death had been alleged to be much larger.

Romualdez stressed that ensuring the safety of every Filipino is also a duty of lawmakers. 

As such, he urges his colleagues in the House to craft bills that will shield people from the adverse effects of climate change and any calamity.

One of the key measures being pushed by the lower chamber is House Bill (HB) No. 7354 or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act.

The bill mandates the establishment of permanent, storm-resilient evacuation centers across the Philippines.

“Ang Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act ay isa lamang sa mga panukalang ating tututukan hanggang maging batas, para lahat ng lalawigan, lungsod at bayan ay mayroong sapat na bilang ng evacuation centers,” said Romualdez.

(The Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act is just one of the measures we will focus on until it becomes a law, so that every province, city, and municipality will have a sufficient number of evacuation centers.)

The Speaker, however, stressed that preventing another tragedy like Yolanda requires not only relief and recovery efforts but also long-term strategies focused on resilience and adaptation.

With this, he assured the public that the House will also prioritize legislation centered on climate resilience. 

“We are determined to equip our cities and municipalities with the resources they need to withstand the challenges posed by climate change,” the lawmaker said.

Tacloban, 11 years later

Yolanda struck Eastern Visayas on Nov. 8, 2013, carrying winds of up to 315 kilometers per hour and tsunami-like storm surges.

Tacloban City, the capital of Leyte, was essentially the ground zero of the disaster, with thousands of houses and buildings destroyed.

Romualdez, who represents Leyte’s 1st district, says the city has made significant developments that aim to prevent another Yolanda from happening.

He cited the construction of a giant seawall which serves as a “physical shield” for residents.

“Ang seawall na ito ay nagbibigay ng kapanatagan sa puso ng mga Taclobanon, dahil alam natin na may dagdag na proteksyon laban sa mga bagyong maaaring dumating,” he noted.

(This seawall provides peace of mind to Taclobanons, as we know it offers additional protection against potential typhoons.)

The Leyte Tide Embankment Project, which stretches from Tacloban City to nearby Tanauan town, stands 30 meters high and is aimed at protecting people, houses, and buildings from storm surges.

With the 11th anniversary of Yolanda serving as a reminder of the typhoon’s grave impact, Romualdez expressed his solidarity with all those who lost loved ones and homes.

“Hindi namin kayo pababayaan (We will not abandon you). We are here to make sure that no one is left behind as we move forward,” he added.