Mar: I put my life on the line, did my job during 'Yolanda'

MANILA, Philippines - Former Interior Secretary and Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel "Mar" Roxas II on Monday said he did what needed to be done during the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda in the country two years ago.

"Isa lang masasabi ko: bago pa dumating si Yolanda tinaya ko na ang buhay ko at nandoon na ako para magbigay babala sa ating mga kababayan," Roxas said in a discussion with the reporters and columnists of The Philippine STAR.

Typhoon Yolanda marked its second anniversary on November 8.

"Ang punto ko ay ginampanan ko ang tungkulin ko nung ako po ay may tungkulin [sa] DILG at [magbigay] babala sa local government units," he added.

Roxas recalled that he stayed in Yolanda-hit areas for two weeks to help those affected and not just visit there to have a photo opportunity.

He said the DILG was given a P4-billion budget to rehabilitate municipalities and barangays including markets and civic centers where they accomplished about 60 to 80 percent of their tasks.

Roxas also expressed gratitude over Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez's statement recognizing the government's efforts on Yolanda rehabilitation.

"At natutuwa ako sa statement ni (Mayor) Romualdez na kinikilala niya ang tulong at pagkalinga ng pamahalaan. Para sa akin, lumabas ang katotohan na hindi sila pinabayaan at hindi sila kinalimutan," he said.

Roxas added that one of the richest countries in the world, the United States, was able to recover from Hurricane Katrina only after eight years.

"Why don't you put us in that context?" he asked.

He said the international groups including the United Nations recognized that the country has done remarkably well in rehabilitating affected Yolanda-hit areas given the country's resources.

Roxas also explained why he chose to keep silent during the second anniversary of the super typhoon.

"Pinag-isipan ko 'yan nitong nga nakaraang araw, minarapat ko kahapon na ang pinakamatinding respeto na mabibigay ko ay manahimik na lamang," Roxas said when asked why he did not release any statement for the Yolanda anniversary during the roundtable discussion with STAR.

"'Yung pagbibigay galang sa pagtatahimik kahapon is my own way. Kung tanggapin nila, mabuti. Kung hindi nila tanggapin, wala naman akong magagawa," he added.