S. Cotabato villagers told to evacuate

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines  – South Cotabato disaster officials has urged the more than 600 residents in a village in Lake Sebu town to evacuate due to landslides caused by continuous heavy rains.

An official of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Mindanao said yesterday that the village of Lamlahak in Lake Sebu is a “high-risk” area for landslides.

“It’s better for them to leave their houses and go to the safe grounds. We don’t want tragedy to happen there that is why I recommended their evacuation,” Hilario de Pedro III, acting head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), told The STAR.

De Pedro said South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr., ordered the provincial Department of Social Welfare and Development office to extend assistance to the evacuees.

Reports from the PDRRMO said 19 families in Lamlahak evacuated last week while another batch of families left their homes this week due to landslides in the area.