TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Fisherfolks communities, church groups, and environmental advocates marked the 11th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda on Friday, calling for stronger protections for coastal communities and fisheries against the climate crisis, as well as a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels that drive worsening climate impacts.
During a fluvial activity led by BUGSAY—a newly established coalition of Leyte fisherfolks — participants waved banners calling for accountability and climate action in Yolanda’s memory. Named after the Waray term for “oar,” BUGSAY aims to “steer the progress and development of Leyte’s fisheries sector.”
“Eastern Visayas’ location is a double-edged sword. While it has access to rich marine resources, it also lies directly in the typhoon belt. The worsening climate crisis places our fisherfolk and coastal communities, who depend on the sea’s abundance, at greater risk of increasingly severe climate impacts,” said Griderick Alila, Visayas Coordinator of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED).
Tacloban City, devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, was the epicenter of the world’s deadliest tropical cyclone at the time. In recent weeks, the region faced another series of back-to-back typhoons—Kristine, Leon, and Marce—that left more than 150 dead and caused widespread destruction.
Alila noted that Eastern Visayas’ reliance on coal-fired power plants is “a contradiction for a region facing urgent climate threats.” He emphasized the area’s significant potential to transition to nearly 100% renewable energy, given its strong geothermal resources.
“Expanding the use of coal goes against the lessons of Typhoon Yolanda,” Alila explained. “Eastern Visayas holds some of the most powerful geothermal resources in the Philippines, yet coal’s share in our contracted capacity mix has jumped from 50% in 2013 to almost 90% by 2022.”
Fisherfolk also voiced concerns over the planned P3.4 billion causeway project connecting Tacloban City proper to Barangay San Jose. They fear the project will “destroy the thriving ecosystem that sustains both communities and marine life.”
“The situation for local fishers keeps worsening. Our catch has been shrinking during the dry season, and fishing is more dangerous than ever with intensifying typhoons and projects like the planned causeway in Cancabato Bay,” said BUGSAY Convenor Dario Magason.
“Our livelihood and future depend on fishing. The fear that Yolanda’s devastation could happen again lingers, even after 11 years,” Magason added.
This commemoration of Yolanda’s impact comes just days before the 29th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, where world leaders are set to discuss crucial issues such as climate finance and a just energy transition.
“Nature consistently reminds us of the devastating impact of exploiting its resources. Yolanda’s lessons remain vital for a nation highly vulnerable to the climate crisis. These lessons must push our government and world leaders to move beyond dirty fossil fuels. Their responsibility is to protect our shared home and safeguard vulnerable communities,” urged Ronald Abao, Caritas Social Action Commission Program Manager in Leyte. | via The Samar Chronicle
