Mandaue to welcome evacuees

CEBU, Philippines -  The Mandaue City government yesterday said it will welcome evacuees from places devastated by typhoon Yolanda.

City administrator James Abadia yesterday said evacuees that will seek shelter in the city can be accommodated at the City Social Welfare Service (CSWS) where they can stay for several days and will receive assistance from the city government.

Abadia said the city will provide them with money for transportation if they wish to stay with their families and relatives who live here in the province.

He said the city will still look for an additional evacuation center if many of them would prefer to stay in city considering that classes have already started in all the public schools which are identified by the city as evacuation centers.

Gymnasiums are being used as temporary classrooms since many classrooms in the city were rendered useless after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the province last month.

The City Sports Complex will also be utilized for relief operations for an international organization of doctors who have brought along medical supplies and equipment which will be used in medical missions.

According to information officer Roger Paler, an apartment owner in Labogon has allowed 20 evacuees from Leyte to stay at his apartment for free.

At present, the city is looking around for tents and body bags now that these commodities have become scarce.

On the other hand, sixth district representative Luis Gabriel Quisumbing yesterday said he will give a month’s salary to typhoon victims.

Quisumbing said he has donated bottled water and 40 motorcycles to local government units in Leyte, Ormoc City, and the northern towns of  Cebu.  (FREEMAN)