Mambaling residents ‘starving’, cry for help

CEBU, Philippines —   Two days into the lockdown due to the spiraling number of COVID-19 cases, residents of sitio Alaska in Barangay Mambaling are now crying for help as food and water supplies are running low.

First Councilor Anne Marie Palomo said people are already starving because they were not prepared for the lockdown and no food provisions were given by the government.

“Nanawagan na gyud mi for the city government to take over. They have to tell the barangay to release (relief goods) now na. This is urgent. Duha na ka adlaw mga tawo walay kaon, mangabuang na ning mga tawo diri,” Palomo told The Freeman.

High barricades installed at the entry points to the affected sitio also barred private individuals from helping.

“Mga baricades na taas kaayo, maski pagtunol ug tubig lisod kaayo. Dili naka makapalit, dili makagawas, and walay ayuda nisud diri,” Palomo said.

She said the city government should act before the situation gets worse because the people are already planning to storm the barangay hall to get the relief goods that were allegedly not distributed by Barangay Captain Gines Abellana.

Abellana, however, denied the allegation and assured that relief goods will be distributed to the affected sitios.

Palomo explained that the residents were caught flat-footed by the declaration of Mayor Edgardo Labella to isolate the area last Wednesday.

Aside from Alaska, 16 other sitios were also placed under lockdown because of the high incidence of COVID-19 infections.

She said because of the unannounced lockdown the residents were not able to buy supplies enough for them to last a week or two.

 “People are not prepared for the lockdown. Wala man na nila gi-announce. Naa ray kisaw-kisaw, pero wa gyud na ma properly announced,” Palomo said.

The city government has already sent 1,000 sacks of rice at 25-kilos each as additional aid to the barangay on top of the previous assistance.

“Ang mga tawo karon gutom na gyud kaayo, unya we have been receiving calls na gusto na gyud sila musulong sa barangay and break from the barikada. So, unsaon naman ni namo? People are hungry, are sick unya naay locked down na area. I cannot find any good reason nganong dili e-release nga urgent naman na siya. Emergency baya ni,” said Palomo.

Palomo said children also need milk and some sick individuals need medical attention and medicine.

Abellana said that as of late yesterday afternoon, relief goods were already distributed to the affected residents in sitio Lawis, Sentro Alaska, Tinabangay, and Ipil-Ipil.

He denied reports that the barangay has not provided relief assistance to the residents.

“Di na tinuod, karon gani ni hatod mi sa Alaska, ang kanang amo gipanghatod kana intawn among tinigom diri sa barangay. Ang city government nag hatag 800 sacks, ang among tagaan four thousand eight hundred twelve (4,812),” said Abellana.

Abellana accused his political rival of creating a scenario to gain media mileage.

“Ang ako ng kontra sa politika aron ma tagaan sila og pansin. Ayaw tuohi na kay puro na pangdaot... Ang ako lang unta mutabang ta sa barangay dili kay mag-sige panaway, magtinabangay ta,” said Abellana.

He, however, admitted the delay in the distribution of relief assistance because of the lockdown. Abellana explained that people distributing relief goods are not allowed to enter the sitios under lockdown.

“Kami manghatod dili namo ni madali, kay ngano akong mga tawo dili makasulod, so nanghangyo mi sa mga konsehal sa sulod na ipahakot ari namo ibutang sa dalan ang ato ipasulod, tapos sila na muhakot,” said Abellana.

As of May 7, Mambaling has a total of 550 cases, the highest among the barangays in Cebu City.

Abellana said they have already started to transfer the COVID-19 positive patients to the barangay isolation centers.

“Naa na tay 40 sa Mambaling Elementary School, unya karon hapon adto na pud sa Alaska Elementary School mga kapin 100, unya kung di masulod kadto mga asymptomatic adto namo ihatod sa Mambaling Elementary School kay tua pay 100 available beds,” said Abellana.  FPL (FREEMAN)