Long night of dread for affected families

LEZHEL Genobisa’s family managed only a few hours of sleep yesterday morning after their home and a few other houses were washed out by waves caused by high tide in sitio Litmon, barangay Dumlog in Talisay City last Sunday evening.

“My husband, three children and I were shaking in fear. I saw the waves hitting the houses,” she said.

Genobisa, 23, lived near the dike that was supposed to help buffer the waves which reached as high as five to seven feet last Sunday.

Some families stayed across the coastal roads while others stayed at the Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel yesterday.

Genobisa is staying in a wooden waiting shed across the road where her house used to stand.

Her family was able to save two boxes and five sacks of clothes as they evacuated.

“We first made sure our children were safe here (waiting shed),” she told Cebu Daily News.

Another resident, Jovelyn Jubay and her 5-year-old son, were stranded inside their house for 30 minutes.

“I already heard the strong waves at 8 p.m and when I checked, the sea level had risen. I was alarmed,” Jubay said.

She and her son tried to leave but a column from her neighbor’s house fell and blocked their doorway.

“I was afraid to get out because the column was full of nails,” Jubay said.

They were saved by their neighbors and other rescuers who arrived in an ambulance.

“I hope that the government can find us a place where we can be relocated which is not near rivers or coastal areas,” Jubay said.

Jubay’s family is staying across the coastal road waiting for the waves to calm so she can return to their home.

As of past noon, children were seen playing near the dike while other families returned to their homes.

Laarnie Ofianga, whose house is located 10 steps from the dike, was also unable to sleep. She cleaned her house after the waves calmed at 3 a.m. “I’m used to this,” she said in Cebuano.

Neil Sanchez, Provicincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) chief, said the families should be relocated.

“They have been living within the easement zone,” he said.

There were 95 families who shared a lunch of noodles, corned beef and rice provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) at the chapel.

The Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu station said sea travel from Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol province and Dumaguete City resumed yesterday. Michelle Joy L. Padayhag, Correspondent with a story from Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol