IN BOGO CITY AFTER STRONG QUAKE No evacuation camps yet, evacuees stay in open spaces

Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Administration Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV confirmed in a press briefing yesterday that no formal evacuation camps have been activated in Bogo City following the powerful earthquake that struck northern Cebu late Tuesday night.

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As of press time, more than 1,000 evacuees were sheltering in open spaces in Bogo City, though tents are being mobilized to provide temporary relief.

“We technically don’t have evacuation camps right now. Our kababayans are just in open spaces. We’re assessing how many cannot return to their homes, and that will dictate how many camps we’ll need to manage in the next 24 hours,” Alejandro said.

The official emphasized that the immediate priority remains search and rescue operations, especially in the mountainous areas of Bogo and neighboring San Remigio, where residents were reportedly trapped under debris.

“We are still within the golden hour. Trained personnel are working tirelessly to retrieve survivors,” he added.

Among the hardest-hit facilities was the San Remigio Sports Complex, which had been designated as an evacuation center. The structure sustained significant damage during the quake, and initial reports confirmed that some lives were lost in the collapse. Alejandro declined to comment on concerns about possible substandard infrastructure contributing to the casualties, deferring the matter to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Next question. We’ll leave it to DPWH. They will assess,” he said when pressed.