Off landslide site Catbalogan LGU to relocate families

CEBU, Philippines – The Catbalogan City government is now preparing to relocate the surviving families from Barangay Mercedes and other landslide-prone areas.

Mayor Stephanie Uy Tan said the landslide survivors of the recent landslide due to storm Seniang would be moved to an area earlier prepared by the National Housing Authority, a few kilometers from the downtown area, for the 600 affected families by typhoons Glenda and Ruby.

Tan said her administration was also considering the relocation of families from landslide prone areas in the city to the NHA site or to other safer areas.

A total of 22 persons died and 19 others were injured at landslide site in Mercedes, where about 115 families were evacuated to safer grounds the day after the tragedy, she said.

Seniang had affected close to 17,000 households in 28 other barangays of the city, while a total of 22 houses were destroyed and 135 more partially damaged, said the mayor.