Tacloban LGU suspends classes, work to observe ‘Yolanda’ anniversary

MANILA, Philippines—In commemoration of the 6th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez has declared the suspension of classes for all levels in public and private schools and suspension of government work in the city on Friday, Nov. 8, the day the supertyphoon made landfall in 2013.

In an executive order, Romualdez ordered the class and government work suspension to “mitigate the inconveniences” as an influx of people from different places, organizations and groups are expected to flock the city to join different commemoration activities.

“A series of activities will be held by different groups to commemorate the occurrence as a way to recognize the lessons that ought to be learned from the experiences and to pay homage to the people that suffered, and those that survived the catastrophe, as well as to highlight the resilience of the people of Tacloban,” the mayor said in his order.

However, government offices and its personnel in charge of maintenance of peace, order, emergencies, health, traffic flow, and disaster management are expected to report for work.

Suspension of work in all private offices, companies, and institutions in Tacloban City is left to the discretion of their respective management.

Yolanda is considered by weather experts as one of the world’s most powerful typhoons in the past century.

It caused massive damage in most parts of the Visayas region and killed some 6,300 people.

Tacloban City, known as Yolanda’s “ground zero” was the most devastated city. /jpv