‘Yolanda’ survivors still in tents–running priest Reyes

Fr. Robert Reyes. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines–Running priest Fr. Robert Reyes has called on the government to speed up the transfer to permanent shelters of survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda who are still in bunkhouses and tents here.

Reyes, who was here on Sunday, said most of the tents given to the typhoon victims were in tatters.

“It has been eight months and our people are still living in bunkhouses and tents. I am calling on our government to hasten the transfer of the survivors of Yolanda,”said Reyes, who has visited this typhoon-battered city thrice.

If the families cannot be transferred to permanent houses, Reyes said the government should replace their old tents with new ones, especially since the country is entering the monsoon months.

Reyes on Sunday led about 1,000 people in a 4-kilometer run that kicked off at 5 a.m. at the Astrodome and ended at the Balyuan Amphitheater.–Joey A. Gabieta