MANILA, Philippines – Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez marked the 11th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on Friday, November 8, with a call to protect the environment and to stop mining operations in Yolanda-hit Eastern Samar. Yolanda, which killed around 6,300 people and affected 16 million, made the first of six landfalls on Guian, Eastern Samar, on November 8, 2013. Packing maximum sustained winds of up to 315 kilometers per hour, Yolanda became the world’s most powerful storm to make landfall at that time.
“As we commemorate this anniversary, I challenge each of you to deepen your commitment to caring for our environment. The beauty of our islands is a gift from God, and it is our duty to protect it,” said Varquez in a circular on Friday. “I urge our leaders to reconsider and stop the mining operations on the islands of Homonhon and Manicani, which threaten our natural resources and the livelihoods of our people.
Together, let us advocate for a sustainable future that honors our God-given land,” he added. Eastern Samar, which is covered by the Diocese of Borongan, is one of the provinces worst hit by Yolanda. Play Video The 11th anniversary of Yolanda, according to the bishop of Borongan, “is not just a remembrance of the challenges we faced but a celebration of the resilience and unity that define us as a diocese and as one People of God.
” “I am profoundly grateful for the blessings of healing and renewal that have emerged from our shared str.
