Talalora was among four towns in Samar hardest hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda, with around P100 million worth of infrastructure damaged in the nearby towns of Basey, Sta. Rita and Marabut.
Among the damage, the first – and only – civic center in the poblacion of Talalora. It serves as a primary venue for the town’s civic, sports, cultural and school-based activities, and provides a vital meeting place for enjoyment by all members of the community.
First Yolanda, then Hagupit: lessons in resilience
With support from RAY DILG, the civic center was repaired soon after Yolanda struck. A new roof structure, replaced electrical wiring, concrete reinforcements, and the like then ensured that the civic center could once again, become a place for the community to gather.
The newly-rehabilitated Talalora Civic Center – July 2015
Yet in December 2015, the civic center faced its first major challenge – a storm surge wrought by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).
“Our town became well-known during Typhoon Ruby, because of the news that our town had been washed out due to the storm surge,” Mayor Leonilo T. Costelo explains.
Talalora Mayor Leonilo T. Costelo in the newly-rehabilitated Talalora Civic Center
“But the civic center stayed upright,” he says. “That’s why the people are commending this work, because it is resilient.”
“This project was also a test for us,” says Mayor. “Some critics doubted if we will finish the project. When it was completed, it showed the people that the government are fully accountable to them, and can implement a project within the scheduled period,” he added.