Romualdez couple honor Yolanda first responders

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Leyte first district Rep. and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez honored first responders during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda eight years ago.

As the nation commemorated the anniversary of Yolanda last Monday, the Romualdez couple also offered prayers for Yolanda victims, stressing they should not be forgotten as their deaths raised awareness on disaster management and prevention not only in the country but in the entire world.

The Romualdez couple are among the principal authors of House Bill 5989 or the measure seeking to create the Department of Disaster Resilience, which the House passed on third and final reading.

“Eight years ago, we, in Tacloban and other parts of the Visayas islands, experienced up close the horrors brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda. Hindi madaling burahin sa puso at isipan ang sakit na dulot ng nasabing bagyo. We still grieve as we remember our fallen brothers and sisters,” Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, said.

The Romualdez couple said first responders took part and contributed in the recovery and rehabilitation efforts of the communities affected by the typhoon, which provided comfort and hope amid the devastation.

“For a moment, Filipinos have shown to the world what malasakit means to us as a people. May this trait of empathy continue to burn in our hearts as we all strive to build a better future for our people,” Romualdez said.