METROPOLICE: Pullout of fallen tree in Opao set today

CEBU, Philippines - Four days after a "buri" or palm tree accidentally plummeted on her two houses, a homeowner in Sitio Gumamela, Barangay Opao, Mandaue City is now worried as the tree has yet to be ejected from where it fell.

Jocelyn Sanchez was troubled by the 12-foot tree's falling on their badly-damaged houses as her family had to sleep in the house of an accommodating neighbor.

She also said her family is now worried that bad weather might bring rains that could affect their health and destroy their appliances.

It was also learned that since Monday morning, Sanchez has been asking the help of the barangay for the immediate pullout of the tree, however, the chainsaw owned by the city government which was assigned to their barangay no longer worked.

In a separate interview, barangay councilor Rene Regodo said the barangay has already coordinated with the City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management office and the pullout was supposed to be done yesterday. However, the man who was supposed to do the job had a schedule of cutting a buri in another barangay.

The pullout was rescheduled for today.

"Kinahanglan man gud og expert nga tawo nga pull out anang buri kay dili basta-basta ang pagputol ana. Temporarily, ato lang sang gipabutangan og scaffolding didto aron di molahos og kalusno ang kahoy ug makamugna og dugang damage," Regodo said.

He also said that in his own assessment, the person to be blamed for the incident was person who volunteered to cut down the said tree.

"Gibadlong man gud kuno to siya nga gagmay-gagmayon pagputol apan wa gyud nipatuo ug kausa ra gyud niya giputol ang kahoy nga gi-estimate nga 12 feet ang gitas-on. Busa nahitabo na nuon to," he said.

Regado added that during their council session this Friday, he will bring up the matter to the barangay council to identify what type of assistance could be given to Sanchez's family. —(FREEMAN)