Leyte mayor commended for response to Yolanda victims

MANILA, Philippines - The mayor of Burauen, Leyte has been cited by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the municipality’s efforts to address the needs of children and families affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

At the commemoration of the second anniversary of Yolanda last year, Mayor Fe Renomeron was invited to speak on behalf of 39 other mayors with regard recovery and rehabilitation work aimed at building a better future.

UNICEF said that through effective partnership with local government units, the local officials were able to provide access to safe water, vaccination, learning materials and psychosocial support, among others, to Yolanda victims.

Renomeron told The STAR yesterday the recognition is a vindication, citing earlier reports that UNICEF relief packages sent to their town were confiscated and replaced by local goods.

In his STAR column on Feb. 14, 2014, Roberto Romulo cited allegations that UNICEF personnel reportedly took back the imported sardines and gave it to the victims.

Dover Conde, who was in charge of relief operations in Burauen, denied the reports, saying they did not receive imported sardines from UNICEF.

“Our operations have been considered as one of the most organized and systematic in the province and we have received several commendations from non-government organizations, private individuals, government agencies and other groups that visited our area,” Conde said in a letter to The STAR.