64 families staying at Bogo City tent shelter after Cebu quake

Around 64 families are temporarily staying at a tent city in Bogo City in the wake of the powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit Northern Cebu last week.

According to the report of GMA Regional TV’s Nikko Sereno in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, an initial 50 families or 254 individuals moved to the tent city. Fourteen more families arrived in the afternoon. 

Residents in the temporary shelter are prohibited from smoking, drinking, and making noise especially in the evening. 

“It’s okay here. My six children and I are comfortable here,” said Vanessa Velasco, one of the earthquake survivors.

“In the place we used to stay, there were leaks and flooding, so sometimes we had to sleep standing up. But here, we can finally lie down properly,” said another survivor Mary Grace Perater. 

Another tent city is also being put up in Medellin, which was also affected by the earthquake.

Unlike the one in Bogo City, the tent city in Medellin is smaller with only 64 tents that can be accommodated.

Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured the affected residents of continuous help from the government. 

“You will see a steady stream of secretaries flying in and out of Cebu. Kasi ang utos ng ating Pangulo, hindi namin kayo bibitawan, hindi namin kayo iiwananan hangga’t makatayo ulit ang mga Cebuano,” he said. 

(You will see a steady stream of secretaries flying in and out of Cebu. That's because the order of our President is, we will not let go of you, we will not leave you until the Cebuanos can rise up again.) 

Aside from Bogo City and Medellin, another tent city is also being set up in San Remigio which can accommodate 50 tents, the report said. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News