TAFT, Eastern Samar -- The municipality of Guiuan in Eastern Samar has allotted some P1 million to P1.4 million for the construction of a memorial for those who perished at the height of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Mayor Christopher Sheen Gonzales said the fund was realigned from the 20 percent development fund of the municipality.
The Municipal Council, however, is yet to decide as to the location where the marker will be erected.
“I gave the authority to the municipal council to decide on where the memorial should be erected,” said Gonzalez.
The design, Gonzalez said, includes some remains from the old church of Guiuan, the people of this town who perished during Yolanda and messages from various sectors of the municipalityl.
But if he is to decide, Gonzalez wanted it to be erected at the municipal plaza of Guiuan, just across the century old Immaculate Conception Church that was totally destroyed by the typhoon.
“I don’t want that what happened during Typhoon Yolanda will be forgotten. This memorial will make people remember that Guiuan was where typhoon Yolanda made its first landfall,” said Mayor Gonzalez.
He also hoped that the memorial will help educate the public on the effects of climate change that destroys not only property but lives.
“Even the typhoon was very strong and it made its first landfall in my town, we are lucky enough that we have lesser number of casualties,” Gonzalez said.
Around 100 residents of Guiuan died at the height of the calamity.
The mayor looked forward to inaugurating the memorial before November 8. (PNA)