DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/23 Dec) — “Stay here while Leyte rebuilds itself.”
This was Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s message to some 200 families of super typhoon Yolanda when it struck Leyte who have sought refuge here, that the city government will help facilitate their livelihood and encouraged them to stay here.
The City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) estimates the number of survivors to be around 800 individuals.
“Stay here, while we look for ways to make your lives easier,” he said.
“I hope you find your place here in the city so that you can rebuild your lives slowly,” he told the survivors during the Pahalipay for the city’s scholars and the Yolanda survivors from Leyte.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has counted at least 6,109 deaths due to Yolanda.
The number of those injured has also been estimated to be around 27,665 with 1,779 still missing.
Duterte also distributed to each family cash amounting to P2,000, a gift certificate worth P2,000, as well as one chicken for the Christmas noche Buena.
CSSDO chief Malou Bermudo said some survivors have said they wish to stay in the city.
Bermudo added that the CSSDO has also helped facilitate the return of some of the survivors to their hometowns from as far as Samar and Tacloban.
“While they are here, if they still are not able to permanently support their families, the city will still help,” she said.
Earlier this month, the city’s Public Employment Services Office reported that 12 Yolanda survivors in the city have been hired by several companies after the PESO held a mini-jobs fair at the City Hall in the last weeks of November.
The jobs fair was participated in by 70 companies. (MindaNews)