Forced evacuation in Buhisan

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has ordered the forced evacuation of six families in Sitio Puti, Barangay Buhisan, Cebu City, who are directly in the path of the landslide.

Alvin Santillana, executive director of LDRRMC, said the recommendation for the forced evacuation was approved by Cebu City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete late afternoon yesterday.

Immediately, a team from the LDRRMC went to the site and issued the order asking six families to abandon their houses, Santillana said.

“Di ni nato kinahanglan langayon kay wala ta makahibaw kanus-a mag-landslide,” he added.

Though there were some who showed reluctance, around 15 individuals accepted the order, said acting barangay captain Ramil Rogo.

Rogo said that based in their records, six families will be asked to evacuate after the location of their houses were determined at risk of landslides.

These houses are those of Jinky, Imelda and Rosalito Balansag, Ricardo and Melby Padayao, Rosita Pantonial and Elisa Ansero. Two of the houses are two-story buildings.

He said it was good that the LDRRMC insisted on the forced evacuation, adding that they cannot do it themselves.

“Mas maayo gyud nga naa sila (City Hall) kay ila gyud tuohan. Kay kun kami, di na namo sila mapahawa,” he said.

Because of the order, the affected families will be evacuated to their barangay gymnasium which his just beside the barangay hall. The barangay, however, will no longer provide food rations while the LDRRMC has sent folding beds for the displaced.  

Rogo said that the displaced residents are asking City Hall to provide them a relocation site, as they have lost years of investment with their houses.

“Gi-anugonan gyud sila tanan kay ila man gyud ni gipundaran ilang mga balay,” Rogo said.

In order to protect other houses, LDRRMC will be erecting a makeshift barrier made of wood on at the upper portion of the mountain to prevent landslides, he said.

On Thursday dawn, residents of the sitio woke up to the thundering sound of rocks crashing down from the mountain side.

Initially, 15 families were evacuated to safer ground and were asked to stay until the situation subsides. However, residents still returned to their house of fears that abandoned houses might be looted. — /BRP (FREEMAN)