Cebu City govt to assist them back home, to give aid

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City government will assist the return trip of some 60 evacuees from war-torn Zamboanga City who recently sought temporary shelter in the city while insurgents attacked their area.

Now that authorities have declared that the siege is over, the 16 families staying in a compound in Tres de Abril St., Barangay Labangon expressed intentions to return to Mindanao but asked for transportation assistance.

The group arrived in Cebu on board a truck and SUV via roll on-roll off ports connecting Dipolog City and Samboan town in southern Cebu.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama assured help to the refugees as he yesterday visited the compound where the Zamboanguenos are temporarily staying.

While there, Rama spoke with barangay captain Crispin Basilio from Guiwan, Zamboanga City who arrived to Cebu Sunday to personally see the situation of his kababayans.

“These people are staying with my daughter who studied and is working here in Cebu. Yesterday (Sunday) I arrived here to see them and to be able to know how they are doing. I see that Cebu City has helped my people from the barangay to the City Hall. I will definitely report this to our mayor in Zamboanga,” Basilio said.

Rama also made a phone call to Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar to inform her that her constituents temporarily taking shelter in the Queen City of the South are well attended to.

With Rama during yesterday’s inspection were City Health Officer, Dr. Stella Ygonia, and Department of Social Welfare Services chief, Dr. Ester Concha.

Earlier, the city government has provided for basic needs of the 60 individuals where one sack of rice was also given to them apart from medical attention provided for by the city government.

Rama further announced that Cebu City government plans to give financial aid to Zamboanga City amounting to at least P5 million pending approval of the city council.

“If the council would want to increase the amount, then that would be really good. This is our way of expressing concern over fellow Filipinos torn by war. It is not an easy situation. The least that we can give is our support,”Rama told reporters.

Moreover, the mayor said he would have to ensure the safety of the refugees before allowing them to return to their homeland.  (FREEMAN)