President Duterte to grace 3rd ‘Yolanda’ commemoration

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 7 (PNA) –- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will be the guest in this city during the 3rd year commemoration of super typhoon "Yolanda" on Tuesday.

“Security would be tight on the President’s visit,” said Chief Inspector Maria Bella D. Rentuaya, the police regional spokesperson.

Tacloban was the ground zero when the strongest storm in history hit land on Nov. 8, 2013. Nearly 10,000 people died, thousands were injured, and more than 2,000 went missing.

President Duterte, then chief executive of Davao City, was among the first elected officials who consoled the people of Tacloban and the nearby towns. He shed tears when he saw the flattened city and decaying dead people scattered on the streets.

On Nov. 11, 2013, Duterte sent 40 rescue workers from Davao City including a medical team of 20 doctors. Twenty (20) nurses arrived in the city in the late afternoon. Davao 911 buses were also sent.

It will be remembered that President Duterte released financial assistance of PHP1 million to Tacloban City, PHP3 million to Leyte province, and PHP3 million to Southern Leyte, his place of birth.

In a statement released by the city press office, Tacloban City Mayor Cristina G. Gonzales said it is important to commemorate the disaster to remind the people and the future generation that super typhoon Yolanda destroyed the city and cost thousands of lives. (PNA)

LAP/SQM/VCA/EGR