Palace declares holiday in Tacloban to commemorate ‘Yolanda’ wrath

FILE: Malacañang (Photo By Official Gazette of the Philippines, Public Domain)

MANILA — Malacanang has declared Wednesday (November 8) a special non-working holiday in the city of Tacloban to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda.

In Proclamation No. 348 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Tuesday, the holiday seeks to “commemorate the persons who perished and survived during the typhoon, while also highlight the resilience of its people.”

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Tacloban be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamation said.

The National Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) earlier said in its final report on the effects of the typhoon that it caused a damage of PHP89.59 billion to infrastructure, production, social and cross-sectoral, while it incurred a loss of PHP42.75 billion to agriculture, fishing, mining, quarrying, trade, industry and services, and tourism.

Over 6,000 people were reported killed when ‘Yolanda’ swept through Tacloban City and other provinces in Visayas on November 8, 2013.

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