Malacañang Will Always Help Victims of ‘Yolanda’, Official Says

Malacañang will always extend help to victims of Typhoon Yolanda, regardless of the bickering between Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Secretary Panfilo Lacson, a Palace official has said.

“We have always been of a position that any area that has sustained damage or loss of life from ‘Yolanda’ will always be extended assistance. It does not matter who the mayor is, or who the governor is,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters during Wednesday’s press briefing at the Palace.

Valte was reacting to reports that local officials of Tacloban, capital of Leyte province, are directly asking the national government for assistance, given the recent squabble between Secretary Lacson and Mayor Romualdez.

“I think we’ve proven in the past year that we have been trying to rise up from the damage of Yolanda; that we have always been ready to extend assistance,” she added.

Secretary Lacson and Mayor Romualdez have been exchanging barbs over the slow rehabilitation and recovery of Tacloban from the devastation left by Typhoon Yolanda. PND (ag)

Image Credit: cityofbacolod.com