MANILA, Nov. 26 (PNA) –Tacloban is slowly showing signs of recovery as “business as usual” atmosphere in many of its establishments was observed.
In a statement, Department of Social Welfare Development(DSWD) Secretary Corazon J. Soliman, who has not left the the Visayas since Day One of the disaster operations on November 9, observed that some big grocery stores, bakeries, water refilling and gasoline stations, hardware, vulcanizing shops, and banks have resumed operations.
Soliman also added that buses and public utility vehicles have started to ply major thoroughfares indicating signs that normalcy is on its way to Tacloban.
Soliman recalled that a day after the typhoon, people were wandering aimlessly on the streets.
“Today, we can see residents still on the streets but are now cleaning their surroundings,” she added.
She also added that some beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) there that survived the typhoon had shown positive attitude and expressed readiness to rise from the damage brought by the typhoon.
The DSWD chief further stressed the importance of attitude in facing and overcoming from difficult circumstances and getting inspired from the achievements of people who were able to recover from losses as they toil with much fighting spirit and believing that there is still hope in Tacloban after the vast devastation.
She also added that children are beginning to show signs that they are also coping and slowly getting over their traumatic experience.
To complement this return to normalcy of the residents, the DSWD chief said the department is now implementing the Cash-for-Work (CFW) Program for the clearing operations.
CFW is an intervention for disaster victims where they are given cash in exchange of doing community work such as clearing roads and canals of debris.
“It would also help victims if they have some cash now especially that life here is slowly getting back to normalcy,” she added.
She further pointed-out that enabling them (survivors) to earn cash will enable them to buy the food they want and the things they need.
To date, a total P5.28 million worth of relief assistance was provided to affected families in regions IV-A, IV-B, V, VI, VII, VIII, X, XI and CARAGA.
Of the said amount, about P400 million came from DSWD, P32.9 million from Department of Health (DOH) while P49.4 million came from various non-governmental organizations (NGOs).(PNA)