Lumad evacuees homeward bound after a week at the Capitol grounds

By Nitz Arancon,
Correspondent

AFTER camping out at the Capitol grounds for at least a week, the evacuees went back to their homes on Friday morning.

At about 9 am, yesterday, 28 of the 49 families boarded three trucks owned by the provincial government bound for Sitios Camansi and Tapol.

Earlier, on June 5, 49 families evacuated their homes in Sitios Camansi and Tapol, Barangay Banglay in Lagonglong town for fear of being caught in the crossfire between the Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion and the New People’s Army.

According to the Misamis Oriental Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Emelia P. Andea, they will fetch another 21 families temporarily staying in Sitio Carray in Lagonglong and bring them back to their respective villages.

“Ang 21 niini ka pamilya, among hapiton didto sa Sitio Caraay kay aron makapa-uli  na usab sila didto sa ilang sitio”  said Andea.

Andea also said in the eight days that the evacuees stayed in the Capitol grounds, health issues particularly among children were unavoidable.

“Nakasinati gyud sa ubo ug sip-on, ang mga kabata-an samtang nagtulda sila dinhi sa Capitol ground,” Andea said.

However, the health issues were quickly addressed by the Provincial Health Office.

“Halos kada adlaw man usab sila bisitahan sa atong mga government doctors dinhi ug gihatagan sila og tambal labi na ang mga bata,” said Andea.

She added their office did their best in providing relief assistance to the evacuees like food and medicine.

“Kami sa kapitolyo ang   nagespond sa ilang mga gikinahangklan,  sukad niadtong June 16, pinaagi sa atong opisina sa PSWD kay ato man kining mandato,” Andea said.

For his part Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano gave the evacuees corn seedlings.

“Ang corn seedlings nga gipadala ni Gov. Emano, mao ang ilang silbing pabalon sa pagpa-uli sa mga evacuees,” Andea said.