BBM: Speed up award of houses, land to ‘Yolanda’ victims

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday ordered the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the National Housing Authority (NHA) to fast-track the awarding of housing units and land titles to victims of super typhoon “Yolanda” that hit the country a decade ago.

The President, during commemoration rites at the Tacloban City Convention Center, led the distribution of housing certificates to some of the 3,000 family beneficiaries of the housing program for the Yolanda victims.

Marcos said the country would forever be grateful for the people and groups including private and non-governmental organizations, the international community, donors, first responders and volunteers, among others, for their assistance shortly after the tragedy struck on Nov. 8, 2013. He said aid came from all directions, and the spirit of the volunteerism and “bayanihan” was displayed in its truest form, “moving without prompting, without hindrance, and without ceasing,” he added.

According to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Yolanda left 6,300 people dead, 28,688 injured and 1,062 others missing.

It has affected some 3.4 million individuals in nine regions. Cost of damage to property was placed at P95.48 billion.

The President recognized the city government of Tacloban “for rising above this challenge and working hard to strengthen the locality’s disaster resiliency,” and its risk reduction and management efforts through the creation of contingency, public service and disaster response plans both at the barangay and city levels.

Marcos said Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez has now become the poster boy of climate resilience, not only in the Philippines but around the world, while Tacloban is recognized for its resilience, bravery, capability, and hard work.

NDRRMC spokesman Edgar Posadas said programs have been adopted in response to the Yolanda devastation, including prepositioning of goods in strategic areas.

He said facilities were also built to house evacuees, science-based approach in responding to disasters have been adopted, early alert warning messaging system and satellite phones, were used, together with drone