MMDA repairs Leyte Landing Memorial damaged by Yolanda

MANILA, Philippines - Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino personally led agency personnel on Thursday in repairing the Leyte Landing Memorial at the Red Beach in Palo, Leyte, which was damaged by typhoon Yolanda.

Tolentino supervised a contingent of MMDA workers in erecting the felled statue of Carlos P. Romulo, which was left unattended 20 days after Yolanda struck this town of 70,000 people.

“This historical monument that depicts our history should not be neglected. By restoring this memorial, we hope to inspire the Leyte people to rise again. Like General McArthur declared, we shall return,” Tolentino said.

MMDA workers re-welded Romulo’s statue then reinforced it with concrete. Romulo's statue is one of six large bronze statues comprising a tableau that re-enacts the historic landing of General Douglas McArthur in World War Two on Oct. 20, 1944.

Tolentino said the MMDA is humbled to be the first one to restore the damaged memorial, which is part of the agency’s repair and rehabilitation efforts in typhoon-damaged areas in Eastern Visayas.

The MMDA sent its first rescue and relief units to Tacloban City and Samar on Nov. 10, just two days after Yolanda’s onslaught. To date, the MMDA has a total of 304 men in the devastated provinces doing round-the-clock relief works.

The agency also sent vital equipment and relief goods and closely worked with local and international agencies in rehabilitating the typhoon-damaged localities.