70 families in Mandaue agree to pre-emptive evacuation

CEBU, Philippines - Seventy families from the two barangays in Mandaue City were evacuated Tuesday evening as rain, brought about by Typhoon Ramon, poured hard.

Mario Perez, chief of the Accident Control Emergency Rescue Team (ACERT) of Mandaue City yesterday said the families came from barangay Subangdaku and Banilad where the Mahiga Creek traverses.

Perez said six families came from sitio Gothong, 26 from the vicinity of Innodata, 15 from sitio Sapa-sapa, and 13 from sitio Mahayahay all of barangay Subangdaku.

All the families were taken to the San Roque Parish gym and the Subangdaku Elementary School.

Families from sitio Orel in barangay Banilad were taken to the Banilad Elementary School.

Perez said the pre-emptive evacuation was decided and implemented by the barangay captains, and residents agreed to the idea considering the difficulty the heavy rains last Friday gave them.

ABC president Ernie Manatad, who is also the barangay captain of Subangdaku, said the newly trained barangay brigade volunteers played in a major role in convincing the residents to agree to the evacuation.

Geraldine Yangco, with 5 children, and a resident of barangay Subangdaku said she consented because she was worried for her children.

But yesterday morning, the families were back.

DepEd administrative officer Benjamin Tiongson yesterday said classes in Mandaue City public schools will resume today once weather forecasters say the coast is clear. - THE FREEMAN