KILLER STORM. A mass grave in Tacloban City where thousands of Super Typhoon Yolanda casualties are buried. The city will commemorate the 10th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on Nov. 8, 2023 in a celebratory mode, thanking all nations, non-government organizations, national government agencies, and individuals who contributed to the fast recovery of the city and other areas devastated by the killer storm. (PNA photo by Sarwell Meniano)
TACLOBAN CITY – This city will commemorate the 10th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on Nov. 8 in a celebratory mode, thanking all nations, non-government organizations, national government agencies, and individuals who contributed to the fast recovery of the city and other areas devastated by the killer storm in 2013.
City tourism officer Malu Tabao said Wednesday they have been holding weekly coordination meetings with officials from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Tourism, Tingog Partylist, and other national government agencies to finalize the activities for the commemoration.
“This year will be a celebratory one. Like celebrating life and thanking God that we are still here, and we are back. Thanking all the organizations that helped us including, countries and national government agencies,” Tabao said.
She said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is invited, but there is still no confirmation from Malacanang.
Last year, the President graced the 9th year Yolanda commemoration where he attended the mass and program at the Yolanda mass grave site at the Holy Cross Memorial Cemetery here.
Among the national officials who have confirmed their presence, according to Tabao are Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum.
Some of the international non-government agencies that signify their attendance are OXFAM, USAID, Save the Children, and the World Food Programme.
Among the activities prepared for the 10th Yolanda commemoration are the resiliency forum organized by the OCD, and Handa Pilipinas forum of the DOST.
Super Typhoon Yolanda, the strongest typhoon to hit land in modern times claimed around 6,300 lives, 5,902 of which are from Eastern Visayas according to the OCD. A total of 2,200 of these recorded deaths were Tacloban residents.
The killer typhoon triggered a massive storm surge that resulted not only in the loss of lives but also the destruction of private and public properties as well as sources of livelihood.
The super typhoon affected 44 provinces encompassing five regions in the country and displacing 4.1 million people with an overall damage estimated at more than USD5.8 billion. (PNA)
