Mayor Jane Yap clarified that, indeed, the fire victims are slowly moving out from the evacuation center at Poblacion 2 to the relocation site in barangay Dampas.
However, one of the fire victims, Ken Requeron, said that there is no truth to the mayor’s statement that, they, the fire victims are slowly moving out from the evacuation center to the relocation site.
Both statements from the mayor and the fire victim, respectively, were issued during the open forum program on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023.
Mayor Jane Yap said she is getting updates via her coordination with Eva Sumaylo, the president of the Seaside Neighborhood Association or SEANA.
SEANA is composed of members who used to live in the area at Poblacion 2 along Gallares St., this city, where a huge fire erupted on Dec. 23, 2023.
The mayor said, “There is only one person in authority nga atong gikaistorya in behalf sa mga fire victims [ug] mao kana ang ilang presidente nga si ma’am Eva. Walay lain tang GI connect. Walay lain tang gikaistorya [gawas kang Maam Eva] kay si ma’am Eva, sukad pa sa pagkahitabo sa sunog hangtud karon, mao ra gyud ang leader nga gipili sa tanan sa SEANA nga morepresentatar nila ug walay lain,” the mayor explained.
The mayor said that she is getting her updates about the condition and movements of the fire victims from Eva Sumaylo who is the duly selected leader of SEANA.
Based on the conversations between Sumaylo and Mayor Yap, it was revealed that there are some fire victims who are slowly making moves to transfer from the evacuation center at Poblacion 2 to a site near the Divine Mercy shrine in barangay Dampas.
The mayor added that she met with the fire victims on Jan. 24, 2023, and said that there is a small delay regarding the transfer due to the heavy rains. The mayor also emphasized that the street leading to the site is being fixed to give way to the entry of the fire victims including the construction of the structures for their shelter.
Mayor Yap reported that at least the construction of 2 houses will be finished soon and there are plans to construct 7 more houses with the help of the city government and private donors.
The mayor said in the same interview: “Kanang 2 [ka balay] sure na ko [nga] ulan o init, naa na sila [ug matukod na sila].”
The mayor reiterated what she said in the previous interview that some fire victims are slowly transferring to the relocation site.
The mayor reiterated this statement: “Gahinay hinay na ug balhin [ang mga fire victlms]; [ug] karon gahatod na sa mga materiales unya nagbutang [NA] sad ug mga sako – sako sa separation [sa mga butang gikan] sa ilang balay kung asa sila dapit ibutang”.
In the same interview, former mayor John Geesnell Yap II, who is the current chief of staff of the office of the mayor, relayed some information as to where the fire victims really intend to relocate.
The chief of staff said: “Dili pasabot [nga] ug anha sila [sa barangay Dampas] dili na sila welcome sa Cabawan. Sila gyud atong gipapili ug asa sila gusto mo transfer. Wala ta mag buot ug asa but we offered [the] Cabawan [area] pero ilaha na nang discretion ug asa sila. But we will still support them kun asa man gali sila moadto.”
The former mayor said that there are fire victims who started to clear up the place in barangay Dampas in anticipation of the construction of houses there.
However, Ken Requeron, an adviser of SEANA and one of the fire victims said no one from their ranks HAS moved to the relocation site contrary to what the mayor said.
Requeron said: “Tinood na wala pa mi ka… wala pa’y nakabalhin o bisan usa namo ang mibalhin padung sa relocation area nga gihatag sa city government pero dunay mga tawo [ug] mga kasilinganan nako nga naghinay hinay ug clearing sa area. [pero ug] maghisgot ta ug bahin sa relocation, wala pa’y yamo’y mibalhin”.
He said that the fire victims started to clear the area but no one has started to transfer belongings from the evacuation center to the relocation site in Dampas.
Requeron lamented that there have been misunderstanings among SEANA members and the lack of clear instructions from authorities only made the situation worse.
Moreover, Requeron said that there is a problem regarding the fire victims’ final decision where to stay: whether in Cabawan or in Dampas. He said that the SEANA members often change their minds about where to stay.