Are we going home soon or not, survivors ask

Some of those who were affected by the deadly landslide in the City of Naga are now asking the City Government for a clear decision whether they will be allowed to return to their homes or not.

Around 80 residents came to visit City of Naga Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong last Tuesday to air their grievances on the slow pace of their return to their homes.

The landslide in Barangay Tina-an claimed 78 lives and left five others missing.

Chiong, in a separate interview, lamented that they are still awaiting the results of the assessment of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on the delineated danger zone surrounding the landslide area in Sitio Sindulan in Barangay Tina-an.

Emerito Quesido, Sitio Sindulan Chapel Association president and representative of the group, said they just want to get a clear answer from Chiong as their stay in the evacuation centers is approaching its third week.

“We were hoping for a clear answer because some of us are anxious to go back to our homes, particularly those living outside the landslide area,” Quesido said in Cebuano.

The evacuees who aired their concern were from Sitios Sindulan 1 and 2; and Tagaytay in Barangay Tina-an.

Quesido said that while the City is treating them well and providing what they need, some of them still wish to return to their homes.

In a separate interview, Chiong admitted that she is still conducting a follow-up with the DENR on the results of the delineation of danger zones in the City of Naga.

Chiong lamented that the DENR has not released its results.

She was also told by DENR officials that they will be sending another team to Naga to conduct another assessment.

“We don’t want to pressure the DENR, but I would like to ask their consideration especially since our evacuees have been staying in the evacuation center for three weeks. Some of them are getting anxious,” Chiong told reporters.

Though the City has already started preparing financial assistance to households that were found inside the delineated danger zone provided by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Chiong said they can’t start providing them since they are still waiting for the results of the assessment.

“Some of them just want to know who will be able to go home and those who can’t,” Chiong said.

She, however, assured that with their continued stay in the evacuation centers, assistance for them will continue to pour.

Chiong also assured the evacuees that she will speak to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu regarding their concerns.

As of yesterday, 1,648 families or 6,791 individuals are currently staying in 11 evacuation centers in the city.

Chiong also thanked the Cebu Provincial Board for approving a resolution that would give authority to Gov. Hilario Davide III to donate 2.1 hectares from the Balili Property to the City Government.

The resolution, sponsored by PB Members Raul Bacaltos and Yolanda Daan, was approved last Monday.

Chiong said that with the resolution, they can now start building housing units in the area using the P25 million from the City in the area.

The National Housing Authority has also started closely working with the City for developing the permanent housing site at the Balili Property.