CITY OF NAGA, Cebu — Hundreds of people from the different parts of Cebu and various civic and religious organizations flocked to this city on Sunday and turned over cash and in-kind donations for the victims of the massive landslide in Barangay Tinaan here.
More than a hundred students from the different schools in Cebu — including Cebu Technological University, Cebu Normal University, and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu — also signed up for volunteer works.
Truckloads of relief goods from different government agencies and local government units in Cebu province likewise arrived at the Naga City Hall, where government workers and volunteers continue to work even on a Sunday.
A team from Metro Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) K9 Unit and another team from the University of the Philippines-Department of Science and Technology (UP-DOST) in Diliman also arrived on Saturday to help in the search, rescue, and retrieval operations.
Naga Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong said she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and assistance from the people, not just from Cebu, but also from other parts of the country.
“On behalf of the people of Naga, I wish to thank all those who have sent donations and especially those who came all the way here to personally deliver their assistance,” Chiong said. “Your help have somehow lifted up our spirit.”
Chiong said as of 11 a.m. on Sunday, they have already received a total of PHP581,711 in cash donations from various local government officials, private corporations, and church leaders, including Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.
Meanwhile, five more bodies were recovered Sunday afternoon, bringing the death toll to 43. The discovery pushed down the number of missing people to 41 as of 3:30 p.m.
The five bodies, however, have yet to be identified, said Sangguniang Panglungsod secretary and Emergency Operations Center information officer Garry Cabotaje.
Cabotaje also said the number of displaced families and individuals have also increased after the forced evacuation of residents from within the 1-kilometer radius of ground zero was enforced on Saturday.
There was no forced evacuation literally as the residents voluntarily evacuated their homes, heeding the call of President Rodrigo Duterte last Friday, said Cabotaje.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte visited one of the six evacuation centers here last Friday, together with Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and some department secretaries.
There are now 1,341 families and 4,984 individuals spread throughout the six evacuation centers at the Enan Chiong Activity Center, Naalad Elementary School, Naga Central School, Apo Cemex covered basketball court, Naga National High School, and Colon Elementary School.
Cabotaje said classes in schools, where evacuees are temporarily sheltered, will be suspended, likely until next week. (Luel Galarpe/PNA)
