“We appeal to our local government units in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Luzon to join us in continuously helping the affected families of Typhoon Yolanda as they temporarily leave Eastern Visayas,” Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said.

With the great impact of Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas, many of the affected families already decided to leave their hometown to safer places.

At present, the exodus of evacuees to Metro Manila and other provinces continues.

“Let us all welcome our brothers and sisters who are continuously arriving from typhoon-affected areas. They need to move out to help them recover from their trauma and losses. Their desire to flee from their hometown is a natural reaction of survival and self-preservation,” Secretary Soliman added.

Pasay City is one of the LGUs which has given support to the evacuees. It established a tent city in coordination with the DSWD as temporary shelter for them.

Likewise, the Municipality of Rosario, Cavite expressed its willingness to adopt some families in their area.

“We seek the understanding of the local government units as they are also called upon to extend public service to the evacuees,” the Secretary said.

The Secretary added that the national government is aware that assisting the evacuees will surely impact their daily operations.

‘This is why we are asking for their cooperation and understanding,” she said.

She emphasized that “no disaster can dampen the Filipino values of hospitality and strength of character, for which we are internationally known for. Sama-sama, kakayanin natin ito (Together, we can surpass this).”