Marking the 11th year since the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda, the Police Regional Office 8 led by PBGen Jay R Cumigad, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 8, participated in a solemn mass at the Yolanda Mass Grave in Holy Cross Memorial Garden, Tacloban City on November 8, 2024.
PRO 8 deployed personnel to secure various areas in Tacloban City in time for the commemoration of Super Typhoon Yolanda, with international name Haiyan, which had struck the region on November 8, 2013. Typhoon Yolanda was one of the powerful tropical cyclones recorded – a Category 5 Super Typhoon – claiming more than 6,000 lives, and leaving multi-million-peso damages to infrastructure, agriculture, and transportation.
Also present in the commemoration were Dir. PCol Neolito A. Getigan, City Director of Tacloban City Police Office; Hon. Byron Torrecarion, Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense 8; and Hon. Alfred Romualdez, Mayor of Tacloban City.
PRO 8 attaches importance to the resilience of our countrymen, and continues to promote a safer and more stable community using the lessons learned from Yolanda on how to proactively prepare and respond to any disaster that may befall Eastern Visayas. The service honored those who perished in the catastrophe, offering a chance to those left behind to reflect on the survivors’ ongoing fortitude and immense loss.
By commemorating the tragedy, younger generations are also reminded of the importance of disaster preparedness, environmental stewardship, and compassion for those affected by the calamity. It is a reminder that natural disasters are no joke, and that preparation should never be taken for granted.
The 11th Anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda was a day of remembrance to appreciate the lost lives and recognize the heroism of the fallen. It was, indeed, a call to action – urging each and every one to stay vigilant and resilient if crises arise.
