Help sought to bury 4 dead persons in Mambaling

CEBU, Philippines —  Already faced with scarcity of food supplies, the families of four persons who have died in the locked down sitio of Alaska in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City are appealing for help so they could finally bury their loved ones.

They coursed their call through barangay councilor Anne Marie Palomo, who in turn took to social media yesterday to call for help on behalf of her constituents.

“Please help! Pila na ni ka adlaw naa’y nangamatay sa lockdown Alaska,” Palomo’s post read.

“Ga-problema sa pagpalubong ang nahabilin nga pamilya. Walay pondo ang DSWD para sa burial assistance. Grabe na kaayo ang kalisod sa katawhan, giapilan pa nga mamatyan karong panahona,” it read.

Palomo said the causes of their deaths are either not COVID-related or unknown, at least based on the information she received.

“Dinhi grabe og epekto sa panlawas sa among katawhan. Tantangon na unta kini kung base sa data gamay na kaayo ang kaso sa COVID-19 sa Alaska. Stressed na kaayo ang katawhan sa problema,” she lamented.

In her post, Palomo listed four people who have died recently but whose families needed financial assistance for burial. She, however, said she will not accept any money from those willing to help and instead named a certain Fely Elarcosa Lasque as the contact person.

She said the affected families could not even afford to buy food to eat, much less coffins and other burial expenses.

“Walay QR-coded pass ang taga-Alaska, unsaon pag gawas? Wa man pod gani masakyan padung City Health ug punerarya. Kadako ba sa problema intawon,” Palomo said.

Aside from that, Palomo is also hoping that help will be extended to other residents who are sick and have nothing to eat.

“Nangapanghinuktok ko karon kung ngano ang gobyerno wa man nakita ang crisis management ani nga problema kung naay mamatay labaw na sa lockdown area?” she said.

The FREEMAN also learned from another resident that all COVID patients who had been isolated at Alaska Elementary School have already recovered while only 21 are left in isolation at the Mambaling Elementary School.  JMD (FREEMAN)