Naga landslide victims laid to rest

CEBU, Philippines — As they laid their departed loved ones to rest, families of those who perished in the landslides in Naga City, Cebu denounced the alleged quarrying operations in Barangay Tinaan.

They believe that quarrying caused the landslides on September 20 that killed at least 51 and displaced 4,984 people.

They walked to the cemetery from the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Francis de Assisi holding a streamer that read, “Justice, Stop Quarrying."

The Campanilla family lost 16 members but only buried 15 at the Naalad Public Cemetery. The body of eight-year-old Jazwel Jave has not been found as of yesterday.

A family member, Jeneza Campanilla, 32, was still able to send a message from under the rubble but it was already too late when rescuers found her.

Her dead body was found together with the bodies of her husband and six children.

Loreto Campanilla, 55, said he saw huge cracks on their ground near their home several days before the landslide. He believes that the continuous rains last week softened the soil and contributed to the landslide.

As of yesterday, at least 45 people remain unaccounted for, according to data from the Incident Command Post at the landslides site.

The day after the landslides, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources suspended for 15 days the quarry operations in Regions 1, 3, 4A, 5, 7, 10, 11, and 13.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu also placed under suspension the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) of Apo Land and Quarry Corporation in Naga City and issued a cease and desist order on its operations.

Relocation

Meanwhile, the provincial government is eyeing at donating a portion of a property it owns in Naga City as relocation site for survivors, but the donation would need to be approved by the Provincial Board.

“We will willingly give it to Naga,” Governor Hilario Davide III said yesterday.

The property in question, 24 hectares in all, is being referred to as the Balili property whose purchase during the time of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia became the subject of controversy and, eventually, lawsuits, for being underwater.

Since last year, however, Naga City has expressed interest to buy the property from the provincial government, something that Capitol is considering of accepting.

Last Friday night, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, during his visit in Naga City, promised to send officials of the National Housing Authority (NHA) to Cebu to see what they can do to provide safe permanent homes for the survivors.

Aid

Aside from the relocation site, Davide also recommended to the Provincial Board that the province donate P10,000 to each surviving family and a separate P1 million to the city government.

Cebu City is also processing a P1 million donation for Naga.

“Of course, the P1 million will go through the process. We will ask the City Council to pass a resolution for the release and charging of the aid,” said Francisco Fernandez, the executive assistance to the mayor.

Fernandez said Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña would also want to speak with Naga officials to know how Cebu City can help in building the houses of the displaced families.

“Si mayor, ganahan siya nga ang atong initial nga ihatag kay P1 million… pang-evacuation ug emergency lang na nila. Initial nga tabang sa Cebu City Government. Ang reconstruction, storyahan pa with Mayor Chiong,” Fernandez said.

Lea Japson of Cebu City’s Department of Social Welfare and Services said the department will start repacking donations this week so the goods can be turned over to Naga.

“Daghan na ang nanghatag. Magsugod name og repack para this week ma-turn over to Naga City,” she said.

To those who would like to donate, she encouraged giving canned goods, water, and cash. These may be dropped at the Cebu City Hall in downtown Cebu City and the Rizal Memorial Library and Museum Building along Osmeña Boulevard.  (FREEMAN)