Thousands of Yolanda survivors stage protest rally

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — An estimated 10,000 Yolanda survivors staged a rally in this city yesterday in protest of government's mishandling of  relief  operations and corruption in construction of  bunkhouses or temporary shelters.

The rally, which caused traffic in the downtown area, was organized by a newly formed group, Alliance for super typhoon Yolanda Victims.

The group claimed the protest action had the support of Bayan Muna and Anakpawis local chapters and from other provinces and the national level of the organizations.

The protesters, in their placards, expressed indignation against the government's handling of the post Yolanda crisis, such as the delayed and "politicized" operations and distribution of relief goods, construction of allegedly overpriced bunkhouses, the no-build zone policies and other irregularities.   

The distribution of relief goods has been inadequate and most of these items even failed to reach many people, they said, while demanding for an investigation of bunkhouses' construction.

They also protested against the "no-build zone" policy of the government, prohibiting the construction of houses within 40 meters from the shoreline, saying that this is a sort of land grabbing that also does not work well for the fishermen living along the coasts.

Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, who spoke at the rally, said his presence was "in solidarity with the typhoon victims who are our constituents" and who are dissatisfied with the government's policies and strategies in handling the Yolanda crisis. 

"Ideally, this rally should not have happened, because Congress had approved billions in calamity funds already, but the victims have been suffering and many relief goods are rotting in warehouses," he said.

Zarate was dismayed that the government has not learned the lesson and has been repeating the same mistakes in the past.  "Sa nangyari sa Sendong, marami ang kapalpakan na nagawa ang gobyerno, pagdating ng Pablo sa amin sa Davao naulit ang mga kapalpakan na yan, at ngayon sa Yolanda nagawa na naman ito," he added. — (FREEMAN)