Cebuanos cooperate in storm evacuation

CEBU, Philippines - Although typhoon Basyang left in its wake some damage to structures, massive evacuations of residents to safer locations as precautionary measures helped, with people obeying orders to immediately relocate.

There were hundreds of families in the different local government units (LGUs) in Cebu that were moved to better shelters hours before tropical storm "Basyang" hit the province Friday night.

The Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), through the Capitol's official Facebook account, reported that a total of 688 families were evacuated as part of preemptive measures against Basyang (international name Kajiki)

 San Fernando town moved 58 families from Barangay South Poblacion to the San Fernando Central School, while another 17 families from Barangay Pitalo were moved to the barangay hall.

In Naga City, at least 189 families, or 1,053 individuals, from barangays North Poblacion, West Poblacion, and Tangke were temporarily sheltered at the Central Poblacion National High School. The residents, however, immediately went home after the weather normalized yesterday.

City spokesperson Garry Cabotaje said that instead of placing the residents at the Enan Chiong Activity Center, which is sturdier but near the sea, local officials decided that they should be brought to the Naga National High School "for their safety," as the school is away from the shoreline.

Several families in the cities of Talisay and Carcar and the towns of Minglanilla, San Fernando, Dalaguete, Liloan, and Compostela were likewise relocated to evacuation centers provided by their respective LGUs.

In particular, those living in the coastal areas of Talisay City were evacuated to different public buildings. Five families stayed at the Talisay City Sports Complex, 12 at the Sta. Teresa Covered Court, six at the San Roque Elementary School, seven at a Barangay Biasong chapel, and 14 at the Dumlog Barangay Hall.

In Dalaguete town, PDRRMC reported that five families from Barangay Poblacion went to the Dalaguete Sports Complex, 33 families composed of 183 individuals in Liloan town relocated to the Liloan Sports Complex, while 23 families in Compostela were placed at the town's gymnasium aside from 26 families that were transferred to the Barangay Estaca gym.

In Asturias town, 20 families in Barangay Langub, 25 in Barangay Poblacion, and 15 in Barangay Looc Norte had to also leave their homes following flashfloods that hit the barangays.

At least 20 houses in Barangay Langub were submerged in water and two houses made of light materials in Barangay Bago were carried away and destroyed also by floodwater.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines- Central Command (Centcom) reported that flooding killed eight cows, seven goats and two carabaos in Sitio Buli, Langub.

Portions of barangays Sta. Lucia and Lunas were also affected but Asturias LGU was still in the process of accounting the number of displaced families as of press time.

Poblacion Barangay Councilor Josias Peñalosa told The FREEMAN that no one was injured and no casualty was reported as residents were cooperative and immediately evacuated when the water level started to rise, especially in Sitio Tapon.

"Ang uban tua sa merkado ang uban tua sa (The residents stayed at the market while others were at the barangay hall," he said.

Lt. Jim Alagao, Centcom spokesperson, said a Special Forces team of the 51st Infantry Battalion stationed in Balamban town helped in clearing operations in Asturias as early as 6:45 a.m. yesterday after Basyang passed.

Asturias Mayor Alan Adlawan, on the other hand, said that relief packs were distributed to the affected families.— Liv G. Campo, Ria Mae Y. Booc, Michael H. Braga/RHM (FREEMAN)