Thousands of residents from the disaster-stricken town of New Bataan, Montevista and Compostela in the Province of Compostela Valley flee to Tagum City on the night of December 5, 2012 in fear of yet another avalanche of mud and flashfloods coming from the mountains that prompted the Local Government of Tagum City to readily extend a helping hand.
City’s Chief Executive Mayor Rey T. Uy facilitated the evacuees who camped inside the gymnasium in the city’s Rotary Park (Basketball Court and also at Beach Vollleydrome) that were later given medical assistance courtesy of the City Health Office and the Rotary Club of Tagum, Rotary Club of Tagum Golden Laces and the LYR Group of Companies.
The local government also provided City Bus and Metro Shuttle buses that fetched the residents from New Bataan who requested for transportation.
Another sizeable group was also seen gathering in Curvada in Barangay Magdum hours before midnight yesterday which prompted Mayor to decide to settle them in the Rotary Park.
In interviews, residents said they flee away from their hometown since rumors have circulated that another flashflood and surge of mud will strike once more, a thing Mayor Uy labeled as mere hearsay in his talk with residents.
Some of them said they don’t have no more homes to return to since their houses were destroyed by the storm that hit their town last Tuesday.
He then facilitated the return of the residents to its Municipality in New Bataan Montevista and Compostela through the trucks commissioned by the local government and Metro Shuttle buses.
Prior to that, the Rotary Club of Tagum, Rotary Club of Tagum Golden Laces and LYR Group of Companies has provided financial assistance to the victims. The two clubs provided 500 pesos for respective families while 1,000 pesos was also given to families who have ailing family members.
Club Treasurer Mr. Larry Rubinos said this is just a little amount of money but they hope this can help them rebuild their lives.
Hundreds of victims were also given medical assistance through the City Health Office led by OIC City Health Officer Dr. Arnel Florendo. Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum
