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Barangay Magallanes in Tacloban City was decimated after a powerful storm surge brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda hit the coast in November 2013. FILE/Fernando Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

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House Speaker on Yolanda’s 11th anniversary: We must be be vigilant vs climate change

Ched Rick Gatchalian

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1731027128344yolanda1.png" style="width:958px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Barangay Magallanes in Tacloban City was decimated after a powerful storm surge brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda hit the coast in November 2013. <em>FILE/Fernando Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez on Friday urged Filipinos to have continued vigilance against climate change as the country commemorates the 11th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/08/23/yolanda-survivors-commemorate-10th-anniversary">• &#x27;Yolanda&#x27; survivors commemorate 10th anniversary</a></div><p>In a press release, Romualdez said the House of Representatives commits to creating more legislative measures that will arm Filipinos with climate resilience.</p><p>“Hindi na dapat maulit pa ang trahedyang naganap noong panahon ng Yolanda. Gaano man kalakas ang bagyong darating, dapat nating siguruhin na nakahanda ang ating mga kababayan. We must be vigilant against climate change to protect our people from falling victim to such tragedies,” he said.</p><p>Yolanda left the country with more than 7,000 people dead or missing. Tacloban City, the capital of Leyte province, bore the brunt of the storm&#x27;s wrath through 5 meters-high storm surges that crashed over mostly poor coastal communities.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/05/18/why-super-typhoon-yolanda-was-so-deadly">• Why super typhoon Yolanda was so deadly</a></div><p>Romualdez said the construction of the giant seawall in 2016 that stretches from Tacloban to nearby Tanauan town gives the residents a sense of relief.</p><p>“Ang seawall na ito ay nagbibigay ng kapanatagan sa puso ng mga Taclobanon, dahil alam natin na may dagdag na proteksyon laban sa mga bagyong maaaring dumating,” Speaker Romualdez said.</p><p>The project, while it received commendations, has also earned some criticisms throughout the years with some groups and villagers saying it could affect the mangroves, corals, and livelihood of the residents.</p><div><strong>PROVIDING SAFE, STORM-RESILIENT EVACUATION CENTERS</strong></div><p>One of the measures being pushed in the House of Representatives is HB No. 7354 or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act which aims to mandate having permanent, storm-resilient evacuation centers across the Philippines.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/06/23/house-oks-evacuation-centers-in-every-city-town">• House OKs creation of evacuation centers in every city, municipality</a></div><p>Romualdez said these centers are planned to be equipped of essential facilities which include healthcare stations for vulnerable sectors.</p><p>“Ang Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act ay isa lamang sa mga panukalang ating tututukan hanggang maging batas, para lahat ng lalawigan, lungsod at bayan ay mayroong sapat na bilang ng evacuation centers,” Speaker Romualdez said.</p><p>The speaker emphasized the necessity of long-term solutions and not just immediate relief to prevent another tragedy like Yolanda.</p><p>“Hindi sapat na tayo ay maghanda lamang para sa susunod na sakuna; kailangan natin ng mga istrukturang pangmatagalan na tatagal laban sa anumang bagyo o kalamidad,” he explained.</p><p>“It takes a whole-of-society approach to combat climate change effectively. We need everyone’s cooperation,” he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/watch??app=desktop&amp;v=F-Zafm5yFGg&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez on Friday urged Filipinos to have continued vigilance against climate change as the country commemorates the 11th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda.</p>

House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez on Friday urged Filipinos to have continued vigilance against climate change as the country commemorates the 11th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Lessons from Yolanda: Seawall, storm-resilient shelters vs climate catastrophes

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Lessons from Yolanda: Seawall, storm-resilient shelters vs climate catastrophes

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 08, 2024 09:14 AM PHT

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Martin Romualdez

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