Climate change awareness drive highlights ‘Yolanda’ anniversary in Tanauan, Leyte

TANAUAN, Leyte, Nov. 8 (PNA) -- This town marked the 3rd anniversary of super typhoon "Yolanda" on Tuesday by raising awareness of town folks on climate change.

In an executive order, Mayor Pelagio Tecson declared Nov. 8, 2016 as local Climate Change Day, which aims to educate and mobilize communities to care for the environment.

Thousands of survivors gathered at the town plaza Tuesday morning for a symposium shortly after the mass and wreath laying ceremonies in two mass grave sites.

“This is to remember those who perished during Yolanda, to celebrate life, and not to waste the chance of life given to us. Let us take good care of our mother earth,” Tecson said.

Tanauan is the first town in Eastern Visayas region that carried out massive rehabilitation activities.

"The experiences we had during the onslaught of Yolanda is just one of the horrible challenges we have faced because of climate change," said Vice Mayor Ronald Flores.

Flores reminded the townsfolk to take the commitment to respond to the call in saving the environment.

Creer recalled how Yolanda’s fierce winds and storm surges flattened their community.

She acknowledged that climate change symposium is very important to open the eyes of the people on impacts of poor environmental management.

"Climate change is a big problem today. I think that solution will come from ourselves so that impacts of future disasters will be not be as destructive as Yolanda. Aside from being prepared for disasters, we must participate in activities that can help save our environment,” she said.

Prior to the symposium, the town’s survivors also attended a mass at the town plaza, the same spot where hundreds of victims were buried.

Roman Catholic Archbishop John Du of the archdiocese of Palo has called on super typhoon Yolanda survivors to help one another to attain full post-disaster recovery in Leyte province.

“Let us look after each other, help one another especially that we have not yet fully recovered from Yolanda’s devastation. This is also a chance to say thank you to all those who came here and helped us,” Du said.

The national government tagged Tanauan town as model in post-Yolanda rehabilitation as it managed to immediately transfer affected families to permanent shelter and rebuild vital infrastructures. This was done through a partnership with government agencies, non-government organizations and private firms.

Tanauan, a town 24 kilometers south of Tacloban City, is one of the badly-hit coastal areas in Leyte province when the super typhoon struck on Nov. 8, 2013. Yolanda's fierce winds and storm surges killed about 1,500 residents. (PNA) 

SQM with Aldwin John Cadayong & Yazmin Ellen C. Espina (OJTs)