70 families living in landslide-prone areas in Albay evacuated

LEGAZPI CITY—At least 70 families or 307 persons living in areas prone to landslides in Manito town in Albay province were evacuated on Saturdaydue to the threat of Tropical Storm “Urduja.’

Joebert Daria, head of Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said around 39 families or 170 persons in Barangay (village) Cawit were evacuated to the Japan International Cooperation Agency Building in the town center while 39 families or 137 persons in Barangay Buyo were evacuated to Buyo Elementary School around 10 a.m.

“These evacuees were living in landslide-prone areas,” Daria said.

Cedric Daep, chief of Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), said they have sent trucks for the possible evacuation of residents in the coastal villages of Libon town.

Marites Quismoro of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol said they have distributed 1,000 packs of relief goods for the stranded passengers in Matnog Port in Sorsogon.

“Most of the stranded passengers stayed inside buses, ports, and evacuation centers and schools of nearby towns,” she said.

As of 12 noon, according to the Philippine Coast Guard District Bicol, a total of 4,524 passengers were stranded in different ports in Bicol. At least 3,590 of these were from Matnog port.

May Flor Jumamil, spokesperson of the Department of Education Bicol, said 154 evacuees were sheltered in five classrooms of Matnog Central School.

Fr. Rex Arjona, executive director of Social Action Center and spokesperson of the Diocese of Legazpi, said some of the stranded passengers in Pio Duran port were allowed to stay in the town’s churches.

“They were here for almost three days. We prioritized the elderly, women and children to stay in our parishes,” he said. On Friday, they have distributed 75 plastic mats for the strandeed residents.# Ma. April Mier, @MaAprilMierINQ, Inquirer Southern Luzon