Media access to evac centers limited

Members of the media can now visit evacuation centers in Cebu City for supertyphoon Yolanda Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), but are requested to observe visiting hours.

According to Ester Concha, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), they agreed with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 to open the centers to the media.

“We have decided to give time for the media to visit at 6-7 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. For those who want to do features and interviews with the IDPs, you’d have to coordinate with us first,” Concha said.

They have set limits to media access to evacuation centers to protect the privacy of the IDPs. The city trimmed down its evacuation centers from six to four. These are the sports complex in Tinago, Capitol Parish, Guadalupe and Cogon Ramos.

“A lot of the IDPs have left, some went to their relatives while there are also some who returned to Tacloban,” Concha said.

As of yesterday Tinago had 163 IDPs while Capitol Parish had 111. In Guadalupe, there are 78 IDPs while there are 18 in Cogon Ramos.

Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera said they furnished the transportation fare of IDPs who wished to leave the center for other destinations.

“There is a lot of help from the private sector, so we use that to help them get to where they need to go. We have provided for the fare of over 200 IDPs,” he said.

He added the barangay will be holding a job fair two weeks from now to help those IDPs who want to seek employment. /Jose Santino Bunachita, Correspondent