MALACAÑANG has signed Proclamation 348, declaring November 8, Wednesday, as a special non-working day in Tacloban City, Leyte to commemorate the thousands of victims who perished at the height of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
"Today (November 8), the nation remembers Yolanda. As we commemorate the deadliest typhoon that hit the Philippines on record and offer prayers to those who lost their lives, we also keep in mind the lessons learned brought by such great tragedy," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
He said the Yolanda tragedy inculcated a "story of faith and hope that characterizes our people as it is an account of tapang at malasakit (courage and compassion) that we must demand from our leaders."
He called for unity and resilience as the people move forward to "build a better nation where there is comfortable life for all."
Roque said the government continues its rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts to help Yolanda victims.
The presidential spokesman said the shelter assistance in Tacloban City is so far "the most successful model in the Yolanda Permanent Housing Program" with the most number of resettlement houses occupied at 10,703 units from a total housing target of 14,433 houses.
He also cited the rehabilitated seaport, airport and classrooms.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, by authority of President Rodrigo Duterte, signed the proclamation declaring November 8 a special non-working day in Tacloban.
"On 08 November 2017, the City of Tacloban will commemorate the persons who perished and survived Typhoon Yolanda and highlight the resilience of its people," Medialdea said.
"It is but fitting and proper that the people of City of Tacloban be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies," he added.
Yolanda (international name Haiyan), one of the strongest tropical cyclones to make landfall in world history, devastated Tacloban and nearby towns as it pummeled central Philippines on November 8, 2013.
The typhoon killed over 6,000 people and injured 27,022. Some 1,779 missing persons have not been found.
The catastrophe affected nearly 12.2 million people and caused a total damage estimated at around P571.1 billion.
Tacloban City and the provinces of Leyte, Biliran , Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, and Western Samar have been observing a yearly commemoration of Yolanda since 2014 through a local executive order.
Proclamation 348, which was released by Malacañang on Wednesday, was signed on November 7, Tuesday. (SunStar Philippines)