Aid promised to 2 families still living in quake-damaged home

CEBU, Philippines - Two families from Barangay Luz, Cebu City, whose house was destroyed in the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in 2013, received an early Christmas gift from former mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Osmeña, who visited Sitio Santo Niño 2 in Barangay Luz a few days ago and spotted the destroyed residence of two couples, Romeo and Marlinda Vidal and Raul and Josephine Vidal, assured that he will help in the reconstruction of the house.

Osmeña said he was surprised to see that there were children inside the destroyed structure.  Each couple has three children.

The former mayor was told that the house owners are construction workers but cannot afford to rebuild their house.

“Gibahin ra man gud na nila ang balay, gibutangan og division ang tunga. Pagkatumba sa balay, ang gipuy-an nila ni Raul ug Josephine maoy nagrabehan mao nga ila na lang giguba,” a neighbor told The Freeman.

Raul, Josephine and their children have been allowed by Barangay Councilman Marito Sanchez to stay in his unused house nearby, while Romeo and Marlinda continue to stay in their house even if it is no longer safe to use.

“Naluoy g’yud ko nga nagtan-aw sa pamilya kay madisgrasya gyud sila kun mo-collapse ang balay nga nagtakilid na,” Osmeña said.

According to the former mayor, he and his friends have decided to help the couples reconstruct their house, which will start next week.

Osmeña said he will try to request the carpenters to speed up the work so that it can be completed before Christmas. “Kun dili mahuman sa pasko, at least by January mahuman na gyud,” said Osmeña.  (FREEMAN)