The survivors of Typhoon Agaton need to be relocated the soonest possible time, not only because the Department of Education (DepEd) needs their classrooms for their Face-to-Face Classes but because living in an Evacuation Center is very stressful. This is despite the fact that the Baybay City LGU, thru the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), provides for their food.
Because of this, the Local Government Unit of Baybay, headed by City Mayor Hon. Jose Carlos L. Cari has been trying to look for partners who may help in the construction of permanent housing units for the survivors of Typhoon Agaton in the City of Baybay.
In a meeting with the representatives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Mayor Cari reiterated the need for the construction of permanent housing units and showed them the design of the housing units that the Baybay City LGU is constructing at Barangay Higulo-an for the residents of Barangay Mailhi, which according to the Geologists from the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau Region 8 (MGB 8), is no longer safe for dwelling.
According to CSWDO Manuel Icon P. Donaire, some of the the survivors from Barangay Mailhi, who are currently staying at the Baybay City Night High School, goes to the barangay during daytime because of their livelihood and goes back to the Evacuation Center at night. “Many of them clamour to have their normal lives back by going back to their barangay but this is discouraged by the city because the Mayor says that we must heed to the findings of the experts,” added CSWDO Donaire.
It could be recalled that after the said meeting which was held at the VIP Lounge of the city, Mayor Cari accompanied them to Barangay Maganhan to conduct inspection of the temporary housing units for the survivors of Barangay Kantagnos.
On the other hand, in an interview with City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, Engr. Rhyse Austero, it was revealed that forty (40) households from Barangay Kantagnos, who were staying then at the Baybay National High School, have already been relocated to the temporary shelters constructed by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Barangay Maganhan. The Blessing and Ceremonial Lights-on for these housing units will be held tomorrow (August 9, 2022). (Marissa M. Cano, City Information Officer, Baybay City, Leyte)
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