08/11/2025
๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ก (๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ก)- ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐๐ฆ
November 8, 2025
12 YEARS AFTER YOLANDA
12 YEARS OF INJUSTICE
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan โ Eastern Visayas marks the 12th anniversary of Super Typhoon (ST) Yolanda, which left nearly 20,000 people either dead or missing in the region and the rest were left to starve and die. Twelve years have passed, yet environmental aggression and state neglect continues. The promises made to Yolanda survivors remain largely unfulfilled. Housing projects intended to shelter those who lost everything are either unfinished or substandard, leaving survivors in unsafe and inadequate living conditions.
Now, we see the reclamation of Cancabato Bay, which has been largely opposed by environmental defenders, fisherfolks, scientists, and nearby communities, almost complete. This profit-driven development, awarded to Sunwest Construction, has already caused damage to the coastal waters of Leyte, including the mangrove sanctuary in Paraiso, San Jose. Local residents and fisherfolk communities argue that instead of investing in destructive infrastructure like the causeway, resources should be focused on restoring and preserving mangroves, which provide natural protection from typhoons. Its impact will soon be felt in worsening disasters.
After twelve long years, it should be expected from the government to invest in disaster preparedness. But the Duterte and Marcos regimes remain criminally negligent in their duty in protecting the people. Communities remain defenseless.
Recently, Typhoon Tino made its landfall in the province of Southern Leyte, which has been placed under a state of calamity due to the widespread destruction caused by the storm. Over 40,000 residents were affected, with two fatalities reported in Saint Bernard. Communication and electricity remain down, and the mayor fears it could take much longer to restore power, as many of the townโs power lines were severely damaged. Guian, Eastern Samar faces the same condition.
The most unforgivable aspect of this ongoing tragedy is the greed and unchecked corruption that continues to rob people of the help they desperately need. This issue traces back to high-ranking officials of the National Housing Authority (NHA) in the region being involved in the โฑ111.23 million Yolanda housing project in 2017.
The widespread destruction caused by Typhoon Tino has once again laid bare the countryโs vulnerability and the government officialsโ continuing large-scale plunder of the peoplesโ money. Corruption issues related to flood control projects are emerging. Over โฑ21.394 billion in questionable projects from 2022 to 2025 are being called into question by people in the region, with 75% of these projects located on the island of Leyte and 25% on the island of Samar.
Twelve years after Yolanda, the same corrupt machinery grinds on, untouched, unpunished, unashamed. Not a single official has been imprisoned for the billions of pesos that have been stolen from the people.
But as typhoons grow stronger, so too will the fury of the people. As bureaucrat capitalists continue to plunder the nationโs coffers and profit from our suffering, the peopleโs surge for climate and social justice will rise higher and will be unstoppable. We will continue to demand accountability as it becomes increasingly evident that the disasters, from Yolanda, Rolly, Ulysses, Opong and Tino, as well as future catastrophes in our country, are driven by the greed of bureaucrats and capitalists. It is clear as day: our survival lies in our own hands. Politicians and officials will continue to collude with corporations, responsible for large-scale logging and environmental degradation, while corrupt bureaucrats are misappropriating funds meant for flood control. But the people will remain united. Our organized strength will save us.
Now, the country faces yet another super typhoonโSuper Typhoon Uwan. Let us be prepared. And let us be more prepared for a fight to change the system. No storm is stronger than a united people. No corruption can withstand a movement rooted in the struggle for life, land, and dignity.
Bayan-Eastern Visayas stands united in the call: we remain angry, and we will demand accountability. AYAW KITA PAGHUNONG HASTA WARAY NAPIPRISO NGA KAWATAN, HASTA DIRE GIN-UULI AN IRA MGA KINAWAT, NGAN HASTA DIRE MABAG-O AN DUNOT NA SISTEMA.
From Eastern Visayas to the rest of the country, let us continue to amplify our demand: Lahat ng sangkot, dapat managot!
HUSTISYA PARA HAN YOLANDA SURVIVORS!
PRISOHA AN MGA KORAP!
