By GENEVIEVE CANTOR
Correspondent
A DOZEN houses in a slum were flattened after a 10-foot wall of the Rural Transit Mindanao Inc. collapsed at Gaabucayan Extension, Agora, Barangay Lapasan, this city, apparently as a result of the heavy downpour and strong winds on Tuesday.
The houses had been built and stood near the RTMI wall.
As heavy rains and gushing winds started shaking and cracking the 10-foot wall at around 5 pm, residents quickly grabbed their children and ran to safety.
Cindy Esquillo, who is nine months pregnant, recounted that she was almost crushed when the wall collapsed. She said she was in her room, and her neighbors quickly responded and got her out.
Esquillo said the ceiling in her room nearly touched her head.
City Social Welfare Development (CSWD) workers came to visit and gave the families relief goods and financial assistance.
RTMI also gave homeowners P2,000 each, and P500 to boarders and those those who leased damaged houses.
But some want more from RTMI. According to Helen Pestinio, a caretaker of a damaged boarding house, she was asked by her employer to demand P400,000 in damages.
Others like Milagros Aligsaw and Melanie Morales demanded for P20,000 and P70,000, respectively.
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