Allowing the coal-fired power plant to operate in the city will harm local fresh water source and residents, according to aid group Balsa Mindanao.
Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna said debt relief, or the writing off of debts from international credit banks, can free government funds for rehabilitation.
A vendor at the city's Bankerohan Public Market drops his donation to an activist going around for contributions to help victims of super typhoon Yolanda that leveled cities in Eastern Visayas. Donations and aid from local to international groups have been pouring in but delivering these to the victims has been a problem. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)
“I would suggest that a state of calamity is not enough, there has to be a state of emergency, because there is no local government functioning,” Duterte said.
Mayor Duterte also shot down suggestions from Tacloban officials to declare martial law in the city following looting and chaos. “We are not dealing with fighting forces, we are dealing with human misery,” he said.