300 families lose homes to waves

Around 300 families from five barangays in the City of Talisay have been affected by the strong waves that destroyed houses in the coastal area.

The big waves started to hit Talisay City Tuesday and have continued to pound other areas until yesterday.

The Social Welfare Department of the city has listed 113 families affected in barangay Dumlog, which was the area first reported hit by the big waves.

In barangay Tangke, there are 65 families affected while 61 families in barangay Cansojong and 55 more families from Poblacion have also lost part or their entire home to the waves. Four families from barangay Biasong have also been reported affected by the waves.

The Talisay City Disaster Coordinating Council, during a meeting yesterday, agreed to ask the council to declare the places affected as calamity areas.

This way, money from the city's calamity funds can be used to help the victims.

City legal officer Aurora Econg, who is part of the TCDCC, said that they are still to determine how much funds should be allocated for the calamity. She said that they will still need to assess the situation and pointed out that only the sitios affected would be declared as calamity areas and not the entire barangay.

The city council, however, is yet to convene for a special session to decide on the matter.

Felipa Solana, social welfare officer of Talisay City said that several houses were also totally destroyed including some that were recently repaired after big waves hit Dumlog last month.

She said that aid has been pouring in for the victims coming from both the city government and private individuals.

Food and tents for temporary shelter have been provided to the victims.

Personnel from Solana's office have also continued to assess the damage and fear that the number of victims would still increase.

Dumlog barangay captain Charles Basillote, who has accommodated the victims at the barangay hall, said he had advised those living near the coastal area to relocate, but they were just stubborn.

In barangay Poblacion, the swelling of the sea has caused flooding in some areas.

The city has set an area in barangay San Isidro as relocation site for the victims, said Econg. The purpose of such is to keep them away from harms way if the same situation happens again.

Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez has reportedly ordered the relocation of the families living in the coastal areas. Several coastal areas around the country have also been affected by the big waves forcing local government units to evacuate residents.(/NLQ)