Philippine Typhoon Survivors Ask: ‘Where is our Government?’ · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Resident of eastern Samar have set up temporary shelters after the storm. Image from Plan Philippines
Also see Haiyan Devastates the Philippines, our special coverage page.
Six days have passed since super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit the central part of the Philippines but relief is not yet given to many survivors. Many dead bodies are still lying in the streets, refugees are begging for food, and rescue efforts are not reaching other remote islands of typhoon-ravaged provinces in the Visayas.
Haiyan caused a tsunami-like storm surge which killed thousands in an instant. The provinces of Leyte and Samar are among the most badly-hit areas with many villages reduced into wasteland. According to the latest official report, more than 2,000 have died but the casualties could be higher because many dead bodies have yet to be retrieved.
The frustration about the seemingly slow response of the government is reflected on social media:
Overflowing of help & support from ordinary people. In times like this you wonder, where are the politicians, where is our government?
— anjell_27 (@anjell_27) November 13, 2013
5 days after the devastation,where is our Government? @govph Your training is done Pnoy,time for you to speed things up! #shame #yolandaph
— JR Pantino (@guillmo) November 13, 2013
sadly, 6 days after #YolandaPH struck, gov't help hardly felt by survivors.bodies still strewn all over the streets waiting to be retrieved
— Marlon Ramos (@iammarlonramos) November 13, 2013
Global media is showcasing our government's lack of action for the Yolanda victims. Where did d 1Trillion presidential Budget go? Hmmm?
— Nina Belgica (@ninavbelgica) November 13, 2013
Where's the money for the Typhoon victims all going? If the answer is in the pocket of our government? Faith lost in humanity.
— Anton Recto (@IamAntonRecto) November 13, 2013
Aid is pouring in from all over the world but there is no system for the effective distribution of these resources:
Donations are overflowing, and yet typhoon victims remain hungry and cold. Hope @govph resolves delivery issues ASAP!!! #YolandaDay6
— Zen Hernandez (@zenhernandez) November 13, 2013
‘Infuriating that there is no visible action for relief. No big or systematic efforts for aid. It's disorienting’ – @sanjuncssr #YolandaPH
— Tudla Productions (@tudlaprod) November 13, 2013
While Tacloban is considered the ‘ground zero’ of the disaster, other islands have been devastated as well and the situation there has not been adequately reported. Ayi Hernandez visited Capiz province and shares his observations:
Houses made of light materials was either flattened on the ground or was heavily damaged. Houses made of concrete materials survived the force but lost their rooof partially or totally. The damages were a bit distrubing when we entered the municipality of Ivisan.
Some families were setting up tents in the highway and maybe because most of the houses were made of light materials, the sight was heartbreaking.
With this kind of destruction, what kept us surprised was the seemingly absence of relief operation in those municipalities. There is no help flowing in.
Below are some photos in Samar, the province which was first hit by typhoon Haiyan:
Even the ambulance wasn't spared by the wrath of #Haiyan #YolandaPH in Hernani, ESamar @CarinAtPlan @PlanPhilippines pic.twitter.com/8csmSTcxsQ
— Plan Philippines (@PlanPhilippines) November 11, 2013
Three cars smashed along the road in the aftermath of #Haiyan #YolandaPH in ESamar @PlanPhilippines @CarinAtPlan pic.twitter.com/ZAYXSabA4p
— Plan Philippines (@PlanPhilippines) November 11, 2013
Filipinos are grateful for the support given by many countries.
Image from Facebook of Jeffrey Cruz
Ruffy Biazon, a government official, writes what he thinks should be done soon:
While the relief operations are ongoing and everyone is pitching in to lend a helping hand, there should be someone stepping back, taking a look at what has happened and study what went wrong, what should have been done and what to do to prevent the preventable, prepare for the inevitable and provide resources for the doable.
This should be done at the national level and most importantly, at the local level