Lawmaker asks why relief ops are only in Tacloban, not entire Leyte

CEBU CITY, Philippines—People affected by typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) ask the government: “Why are the relief operations only made in Tacloban?”

This was Leyte Third District Representative Andres Salvacion’s words when asked about the ongoing relief operations in the aftermath of the typhoon, one of the strongest ever recorded in world history.

“They have not received relief. They even have no news if they are going to get relief,” he said when chanced upon by INQUIRER.net at Mactan International Airport on Wednesday while he was waiting for a connecting flight to Tacloban.

“They have not distributed relief goods to the entire province, just in Tacloban City,” he added.

Tacloban City belongs to the First District of the province. In the wake of the typhoon, scores of dead bodies were scattered on the streets. The place was described as “a total devastation” from initial post typhoon reports.

While Salvacion said he had yet to visit his place, he heard reports that 90 percent of his district was damaged.

The third district of Leyte has five towns with a voting population of 120,000. Its means of livelihood is mostly agriculture and fishing.

Salvacion was in Manila when Yolanda lashed Visayas region.

“I was very worried because I have also my relatives in Leyte especially in my district. I was anticipating already that this is tragic based on Tacloban tragedy, it’s just impossible that the rest of Leyte won’t be included,” he said.

Power and communication lines remain closed in his district, and he said it would take up to three months before it gets restored.

But one of the roads was already passable so he was on his way there.

He said he had ordered a hundred of bags of the National Food Authority for his people.

“I ordered bags of rice with my own funds. There were not enough canned goods available in Cebu. At least with rice they can make porridge to ease hunger, at least for now,” Salvacion said.

Malacañang had been criticized by the alleged disorganized distribution of relief goods.

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