LESSONS LEARNED | Yolanda anniversary sparks renewed calls for justice, climate action

November 9, 2021 , 11:06 AM

(November 9, 2021) – Civil society groups on Monday expressed stronger calls for climate justice as the country marked the eighth anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda that devastated Visayas in 2013, urging national and global leaders to make substantial efforts to act on the climate emergency.

Various organizations and survivors recalled their tragic experiences when they faced the wrath of the super typhoon, also known internationally as Typhoon Haiyan. Many also took to social media to remember the lives lost and those who were left struggling.

Bahaghari chairperson Rey Valmores-Salinas, a survivor, supported calls for climate action as she mourned the death of her friends eight years ago. She also posted a photo showing the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, featuring houses in shambles.

Other users also shared their personal stories on what they went through during the disastrous event. Typhoon Yolanda—packing sustained winds of 315 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 380 kph on its first landfall—was the strongest typhoon in 2013 and among the strongest in history. It killed 6,340 people.

It also damaged 1.1 million houses mostly in the eastern Visayas with the total cost of rebuilding pegged at P250 billion. Some 5.9 million workers were also severely affected.

8 years ago today, I saw how Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) took the rights of the people to a safe home, education, and to live. This year, at this time, world leaders in Glasgow pays no attention to the injustice that their actions has brought to our country. #Yolanda8 pic.twitter.com/AXiA71VVic

— carms #ManggagawaNaman ?✊ (@carms_pobingco) November 8, 2021

Remembering #Haiyan supertyphoon Yolanda. I took this photo 8 yrs ago in Leyte, the day after the landfall, admiring the courage of the people to live on. pic.twitter.com/0TKFabJl2b

— Arlynn Aquino (@1_Arlynn) November 9, 2021

The administration of former President Noynoy Aquino III was largely criticized for the poor response after Typhoon Yolanda, with a huge amount of supposed disaster relief funds allegedly wasted.

Greenpeace Philippines, an environmental organization, stressed that remembering the devastation wrought by Typhoon Yolanda must be coupled with a strong call from people in power to do better. It has an online petition seeking support in taking legal action against climate polluters.

8 years is long enough. As we remember Haiyan’s destruction and stories of recovery, we demand climate justice for the thousands of lives affected and lost in this tragedy.

Help us hold big polluters accountable>> https://t.co/70jTFe91gF #Yolanda8 #Haiyan8 pic.twitter.com/nNy4emPG36

— Greenpeace Philippines (@gpph) November 8, 2021

Gerry Arces, a convenor of People for Power Coalition, stressed that promises from authorities should translate to actual action to mitigate the effects of climate change. Arces, along with many other independent groups, said the fury of Typhoon Yolanda should serve as a lesson for leaders to act now.

“We cannot help but still raise eyebrows at the fact that they (promises) are long-overdue, leave loopholes open for forms of fossil fuels finance, and failed to get key polluting countries on board,” said Arces.

Vice President Leni Robredo, running as an independent presidential candidate in the 2022 elections, vowed to help seek long-term solutions to the climate crisis.

8 years na since Yolanda. Ginugunita natin ang mga pumanaw, at nakikiisa tayo sa paghanap ng pangmatagalang solusyon at mas institusyonal na tugon sa mga sakuna at sa peligro ng climate change. Panata natin ito.

— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) November 8, 2021

Former senator Bongbong Marcos Jr., the late dictator’s son, went to Tacloban on Monday for the commemoration of Typhoon Yolanda. The Marcoses consider Tacloban as one of their political strongholds since former first lady Imelda Marcos, a graft convict, hails from the province.

Marcos’ visit, however, didn’t sit well with some netizens.

This disgusts me. Marcos, seriously? Pati commemoration ng Yolanda victims, ipopoliticized? Shame. https://t.co/SfxNtiVcTU

— tams (@ratatams) November 8, 2021

the fact that bbm posters dominated the whole city instead of commemorative materials in the time of Yolanda anniversary,,, tell me how is that not political??

— s h a d r a c h (@shadrachdlc) November 8, 2021

So b/b/m is in Tacloban for the 8th Anniversary of Yolanda.

I hope that this isn’t just a campaign stunt. People lost their lives, family members, and homes on that day. What we went through should not be used for any political agenda.

I hope his heart is in the right place.

— Joanne Valles ?? (@TheJoanneV) November 8, 2021

Vice presidential aspirant Walden Bello, the running mate of labor leader Leody De Guzman, also joined calls for climate justice.

“On this day, eight years ago, Haiyan/Yolanda made landfall in Guiuan. We remember all the victims—dead, alive, and missing—while being steadfast in responding to the current climate emergency,” said Bello.

(PM)

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