13 Years After Yolanda, Survivors Say Tacloban Has Yet to Fully Recover

Posted on November 8, 2026 at 08:32 PM

Tacloban City — Thirteen years after Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated Tacloban City and other parts of Eastern Visayas, survivors say the struggle to rebuild their lives is far from over.

For many affected families, recovery did not end when the floodwaters went down. Questions remain about housing, lost livelihoods, government assistance, and whether communities have received the support they need to move forward.

These concerns were brought up during a candle-lighting ceremony at Boy Scout Rotonda in Tacloban City on November 8, 2026, where survivors and various groups gathered to remember those who died when Yolanda struck the region in November 2013.

Among those who shared their experiences was Roque Regis, a resident of Paraiso, San Jose. He recalled the hardships his community faced after the typhoon and the difficulties survivors encountered in seeking government assistance.

The concerns raised during the gathering reflect the continuing challenges faced by communities affected by the disaster.

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers–Tacloban Law Students Chapter (NUPL-TAC), one of the organizers, said many communities in Eastern Visayas continue to face inadequate rehabilitation, lost livelihoods, and unfinished housing and infrastructure projects despite billions of pesos spent on recovery efforts.

The group said the government must be held accountable for the commitments it made to Yolanda survivors and ensure that affected communities receive the assistance they need.

It also raised concerns about the progress of the P16.9-billion Storm Surge Protection Project in Tacloban City, which involves the construction of a 44.48-kilometer concrete seawall. According to NUPL-TAC, the project remains unfinished nearly a decade after construction began, with some sections reportedly showing cracks and signs of deterioration.

For survivors, however, recovery is not measured only by the completion of large infrastructure projects. It is also about having a safe home, a reliable source of income, and access to assistance when they need it.

The commemoration also featured a street theater performance by the Sirang Theatre Ensemble, with support from the local chapter of the Philippine Junior Jaycees.

Thirteen years after Yolanda, survivors continue to remember those they lost while calling for the government to address the problems that remain. For many of them, the disaster may have happened years ago, but its effects are still part of their daily lives.

Photo by: Jazmin Bonifacio, The Vanguard