300 residents taking shelter in Busay Shrine

CEBU, Philippines - While facing the danger of further landslides from tension cracks that developed after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake last October 15, about 300 individuals from barangay Buhisan in Cebu City have been spending the night in the designated evacuation center, their newly-installed barangay captain said.

“Forced evacuation gyud ni atong gi-implement nila. Ang affected families nga ato gyung na-identify after the affected individuals kay nagpa-survey ta sa atong GAD (Gender and Development). Atong gi-forward ang data sa City Hall through Councilor Dave Tumulak,” Barangay captain Glemar Barrete said.

He added that the Buhisan Shrine was identified to as temporary shelter for the 300 people, comprising 30 families, after a survey was conducted by barangay officials.

“Dili gyud ta kapugong nga manguli sila sa ilang balay during daytime. But inig ka gabii, naa tay tanod nga mag-roving sa mga balay and naa sad tay nightly attendance sheet nga papirmahan nato sa mga natulog sa evacuation center para atong ma-istoryahan ang wala mipatoo the following day,” the barangay official continued.

A letter request for further assistance from the city government was sent by the barangay office asking for folding beds and tents.

“Initially, nangayo tag portalets but we found out nga naa ra nay CR ang shrine so wala nalang. Ang atong primary need kay higdaanan sa mga affected residents,” Barrete said.

Tumulak, who sits as chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said the city government is currently preparing to send the requested items to be used by affected residents who have been complaining from lack of rest due to worry that a landslide may hit them especially in their sleep.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources earlier inspected the area last December 2 and issued a landslide threat advisory followed by a recommendation for immediate evacuation.

The MGB inspection was done upon the recommendation of the CCDRRMC who did their own Geographic Information System mapping during the last week of  November.   (FREEMAN)