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‘Very instrumental’: Romualdez credits Duterte in Leyte post-Yolanda recovery

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/tvpatrol/07/06/20190706-duterte-camp-vicente-luban-mnib-10_1.jpg"/><figcaption>Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez (right) credits President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s &quot;no-nonsense&quot; approach in helping the province recover from supertyphoon Yolanda. Robinson Niñal, Presidential Photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA—Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Saturday attributed his province&#x27;s post-Yolanda redevelopment to President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s &quot;no-nonsense approach.&quot;Romualdez&#x27;s district, which includes Tacloban City, was among the worst-hit areas when supertyphoon Yolanda struck the region in 2013.&quot;President Duterte was very instrumental in fast-tracking the recovery post-Yolanda,&quot; Romualdez said after attending the inauguration of the Ormoc Airport Development Project, where the chief executive was also present.&quot;This airport project is an example how his no-nonsense approach in governance prompted officials to rush the completion of projects in Leyte.&quot;The Ormoc terminal was expanded to 1,350 sqm from 150 sqm after the 15-month renovations were completed in May 2018.The President allotted P9.62 billion for the construction of the so-called &quot;Great Wall of Leyte,&quot; a 4-meter high sea wall that spans about 27.3 kilometers, the lawmaker said.The wall is expected to safeguard some 30,800 houses in Tacloban, and the towns of Palo and Tanauan from storm surges.Duterte also approved the allocation of P716 million for the construction of the Tacloban Airport terminal building, Romualdez said.Another P50 million was earmarked for the construction of the airport&#x27;s operation building and for the maintenance of the control tower.The projects are expected to be completed before the end of Duterte&#x27;s term in 2022, he said.&quot;The administration of President Duterte is not only focused on rehabilitation and recovery projects for Leyte. He also wanted to make sure that no more lives will be in peril when calamity strikes the province,&quot; Romualdez said.Duterte was among the &quot;first to rush aid to Leyte&quot; after the supertyphoon toppled buildings and destroyed homes nearly 6 years ago, the Leyte representative said.&quot;We have not forgotten this, and we will be forever grateful for his concern to our people,&quot; he said.Romualdez is among the 4 lawmakers vying to become the 18th Congress&#x27; House Speaker.Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco is being supported by the President&#x27;s ruling PDP-Laban, while Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano allegedly has the backing of some Cabinet members.Duterte&#x27;s son Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte recently coalesced with 8 other Davaoeño lawmakers to forge the &quot;Duterte Coalition&quot; in the House.The coalition endorsed Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab&#x27;s bid.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Saturday attributed his province's post-Yolanda redevelopment to President Duterte's "no-nonsense approach."

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Saturday attributed his province's post-Yolanda redevelopment to President Duterte's "no-nonsense approach."