Evacuees no-show in relocation sites, refuge sought outside 'danger zone'
Laborers hired under Petron's Cash for Work program continue to do clean-up work even in areas now declared as "danger zones." And there are no evacuees in relocation sites as all directly-hit families chose to seek refuge within their community, sharing temporary shelter outside the prohibited section of the village.
In Barangay Lapaz of Nueva Valencia, a total of 92 families were forced to leave their homes with the 100 meter-from-shoreline zone identified and declared to be unsafe and highly toxic to residents.
Veronica Ortiz, Lapaz Barangay Captain said her regular rounds gathered similar complaints of respiratory problems from the evacuated families estimated to be about 500 individuals.
In Sitio Lusaran with clean-up supervised by Petron, male workers asked on their condition said they are aware of the danger as reported yet shrugged off the threat to their health. At the end of the day, the group packs up and move to higher ground.
Noticeably, strong smell emitted from the bunker fuel washed to shore still remains, albeit almost a month into the oil spill.
Meantime, more relief pours in to Guimaras the latest of which was the medical mission of the Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office (PCSO) under Janet Oberio and Guimaras Lone District Congressman Edgar Espinosa. A total of P12.5 million in medicines have been allotted for the oil spill victims comprised of basic medicines for respiratory needs, stomach disorders and pain relief. Vitamins were also distributed alongside the rations of rice, noodles and canned goods.