CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama said he would tap the military’s help if necessary to evacuate the fire victims who would refuse to leave the area if typhoon Pablo would affect Cebu City.
Rama yesterday ordered the evacuation of the fire victims from the area into the barangay sports complex as the typhoon threatened the Mindanao and Visayas areas.
Rama was particularly concerned about the fire victims who put up makeshift tents on a downhill portion of the fire area which would endanger them if rains would cause flooding and trigger landslide in the area.
“If they stay below mo uwan pa lang unya mag landslide. Mas daku pa tau g problema ana,” he said.
Aside from the evacuation order, Rama also ordered the immediate release of the housing materials and the P10,000 cash assistance to the fire victims so that they would be able to rebuild their homes before Christmas.
“I want the P10,000 and the housing materials given to them as fast as possible,” he said.
Until materials are released to them, the fire victims would have to relocate to the barangay sports complex.
Rama said he would put a container van in the area to store the belongings of the victims while they’re at the sports complex.
Initial data of the Department of Social Welfare and Services showed that there were at least 550 individuals or at least 130 families affected by the fire.
Arson investigators were still investigating the cause of the fire./Correspondent Edison A. delos Angeles