TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Dec.11 (PNA) — Mayor Alfred Romualdez acknowledged the support extended by the national government to his devastated city in the aftermath of super typhoon “Yolanda”, hoping it would set the record straight on some reports circulated by the national media following his emotional appearance during a recent Senate hearing, City Administrator John Tecson Lim clarified on Wednesday.
“May sound bite po na lumabas na baka ma-quote nang mali na parang sinabi niya walang ginawa ang national government. No, he actually recognizes that, and actually wants to thank everyone for it,” Lim told reporters here, on behalf of Mayor Romualdez, after a meeting with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC).
Lim said Mayor Romualdez would like to thank everyone, not only the members of the RDRRMC, but all the personnel sent by the local government units and the national government agencies from different regions that responded to their cry for help.
A tearful Romualdez spoke before members of the Congressional Oversight Committee on the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management hearing at the Senate last Monday, where he disclosed that Interior Secretary Mar Roxas initially denied him his request for additional manpower from the national government until a written ordinance was accomplished to legalize the said operation.
The issue immediately became a hot topic that polarized public opinions which the local government of Tacloban would rather not inflate, Lim said, hoping that those who are currently involved with the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts in the area would not get affected by it.
“There are some issues now in the national media which he actually wished to just stay away from… Hindi naman po siguro sinasadya ng mga istasyon (ng media) na ‘yon na naputol po ‘yung sound bite,” Lim said.
“He asked me to personally convey to everyone his extreme gratitude in the service that you have been providing Tacloban City. He really appreciates the same and actually urges us to continue working together, hand-in-hand, and be focused sa task natin na ito at hindi po magpadala doon sa mga nangyayari doon,” he added.
Lim stressed that they truly appreciate all the help they are getting from all sectors. “We can never thank you enough. Alam ko parati na lang po ako thank you nang thank you. Pero, again, we cannot thank you enough. Maraming-maraming salamat po,” he concluded. (PNA)