Palace assures continuous rehab of ‘Yolanda’-hit areas

FILE: Newly-appointed Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. (ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA — Malacanang on Wednesday assured the continuous rehabilitation of areas badly-hit by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ four years ago.

“The Duterte administration has pursued rehabilitation and reconstruction of Yolanda-affected communities. We have rehabilitated seaport and airport facilities and classrooms. Our shelter assistance in Tacloban City is the most successful model in the Yolanda Permanent Housing Program, with the most number of resettlement houses occupied at 10,703 units from a total housing target of 14,433 houses,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Roque urged Filipinos to stand united and resilient to be able to contribute to nation-building.

“As we move forward, we must continue to stand united and exhibit the strong and resilient Filipino spirit as we build a better nation where there is comfortable life for all,” he said in a statement.

Roque also called on Filipinos to remember the lessons from the disaster, which he described as a “story of faith and hope that characterizes our people, as it is an account of tapang at malasakit (courage and caring) that we must demand from our leaders.”

On Nov. 8, 2013, ‘Yolanda’ ravaged Tacloban City and other parts of Visayas, killing more than 6,000 people.

The disaster also left more than 28,000 injured and more than 1,000 individuals missing. (PNA)