Cebu City evacuees return to their homes

CEBU, Philippines —  Most of those who were evacuated to safer grounds in Cebu City at the height of tropical depressions Agaton and Basyang have already returned to their respective homes, Mayor Michael Rama said yesterday.

Data showed over 80 families who sought shelter in different evacuation sites in the city during the Holy Week due to inclement weather.

“Katong mga nang-evacuate, nanguli naman. They are already back home, except kining area sa Mabolo (Those who evacuated have returned home, except those from Mabolo),” said Rama.

According to Rama, the city government is planning to relocate families identified to be living in danger zones in one sitio in Mabolo.

These families live along the creek.

While the city government has already taken some measures to keep the area safer, some measures have yet to be implemented, such as ensuring that the waterways are not obstructed to avoid heavy flooding.

Rama said that except for some minor landslides, a few damaged roads in the mountain areas and some flooded areas, the city did not incur “too much” damage.

“I had a meeting. Dili man kaayo to completely nga ma-worry gyud ta… But we are focusing on Mabolo, Sirao. And we are checking on other areas (that need to be attended to immediately),” said Rama.

Rama, however, said that the city government remains vigilant and continues to monitor the situation in the mountainsides, as well as those living along the rivers and creeks.

The last soil erosion noted by the city government was in Barangay Sinsin and Upper Malubog last Friday.

“But definitely, we are not lowering our guards, though we are already seen a forecast brighter days ahead,” Rama said.

With not much damage seen in Cebu City, Rama had expressed earlier that the city intends to give financial support to families in Leyte who were affected by Agaton and Basyang.

However, Rama stressed that they will be prioritizing first the giving of financial assistance to Cebu City residents who have not yet received their aid due to the election ban.

The city government is still waiting for the Commission on Elections’ go signal to proceed with the distribution of financial aid to residents with damaged structures. — Decemay P. Padilla, JMD (FREEMAN)