Former US Vice President ‘Al’ Gore visits Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, March 12 (PNA) - Former United States Vice President Albert Gore made a quick visit to this city on Saturday to check the extent of devastation of super typhoon Yolanda that ravaged the city more than two years ago.

Gore was accompanied by Senator Loren Legarda, chairman of Senate committee on climate change during his brief visit.

Al Gore is currently in the country for the The Climate Reality Project on March 14 to 16, which will be joined by representatives from various countries, who will be trained to become effective communicators on raising climate change awareness.

Al Gore was welcomed by Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez and wife Councilor Cristina Romualdez upon his arrival at the Tacloban Airport at 2:45 p.m. through a Philippine Airlines flight.

He visited Baybay subvillage in the coastal community of San Jose district and had a 10-minute talk at the house of one of the residents, Demetria Raya.

Village chief Emilita Montalban said they were surprised by Gore’s visit.

Montalban hopes that the visit of one of the former leaders in the US, could raise awareness about the impacts of climate change.

About 1,000 residents in Baybay area perished when super typhoon Yolanda devastated the city. More than a hundred residents have been missing, according to Montalban.

After visiting the village, Al Gore went to the mass grave where more than 2,000 Yolanda casualties were buried. At the site, Al Gore and Romualdez discussed the identification process for victims.

The National Bureau of Investigation has been conducting identification process for those buried at the mass grave. Until now, the agency has not yet released the result.

Al Gore also made quick stop at the ship wreck of M/V Eva Jocelyn in Anibong District. Part of the ship was turned into a memorial site by the city government as remembrance for those who perished during the catastrophe.

Gore toured Tacloban as part of his new climate change documentary. He did not entertain media interviews during his three-hour visit in this city.

The former US vice president is known for his environmental advocacy, which he started during his first term as congressman in 1976.

His advocacy has been acclaimed globally and was given numerous award. His awards include Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2007 and Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2009. (PNA)
RMA/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA