The simultaneous pealing of bells in churches around Tacloban will signal the customary candlelight memorial at 6 p.m.

No mercy Tacloban City was a picture of devastation when super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ wreaked havoc six years ago, killing scores of residents and untold damages in Eastern Visayas.

TACLOBAN CITY — It will be a simple and solemn day when the city commemorates the 6th anniversary of typhoon “Yolanda” on 8 November.

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to grace the event where he will reportedly inaugurate the water system in Tacloban North where over 15,000 families formerly residing in high-risk coastal communities were pemanently resettled.

The City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) said on Wednesday that preparations are already underway for the different activities that the city government will lead in coordination with other stakeholders.

The CTOO said the city government is opting for a simple, yet meaningful commemoration of the “Yolanda” Anniversary that will highlight the efforts of the LGU in providing the much-needed social services to the Yolanda-affected communities.

Aside from President Duterte, other guests invited are national officials, several foreign envoys, and representatives of non-government organizations which helped Tacloban in the aftermath of the Super Typhoon.

The CTOO said activities will start on November 7 with a 6 p.m. mass at the Anibong Shipwreck to be participated by Mayor Alfred Romualdez and the city government employees and officials. Highlight of the memorial service will be a blessing and wreath-laying ceremony.

On 8 November, a new memorial for the “Yolanda” victims will be unveiled at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Barangay Basper after a 7 a.m. mass. The monument which stands near the mass grave consists of a 10-meter concrete cross and a black oblique granite wall inscribed with the names of 2,273 Yolanda casualties in Tacloban.

A commemorative program will be held at 9 a.m. at the Tacloban City Convention Center (Astrodome) where President Duterte is expected to give his message.

Mayor Romualdez, Sen. Imee Marcos, former senator Bongbong Marcos, Leyte 1st District, and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez are also expected to grace the program.

In the evening, a concert will be held at the Balyu-an grounds to replace the Sky Lantern Memorial that is traditionally sponsored by Tingog Party-list every 8 November. The use of sky lanterns drew mixed reactions in the past years prompting ‘Tingog’ to opt for the more ‘environmentally-friendly’ concert.

The simultaneous pealing of bells in churches around Tacloban will signal the customary candlelight memorial at 6 p.m.