Permanent evac centers pushed

Following two separate fire incidents that struck Barangay Tejero in the first two months of the year, Barangay Captain Harold Seno has called on the Cebu City government to establish long-term evacuation plans for disaster situations.

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An aerial view shows the fire that hit Sitio Villagonzalo I in Barangay Tejero, Cebu City, on February 5, 2026. Some displaced residents remain at a temporary evacuation center as of yesterday, prompting barangay officials to push for a permanent facility and the expedited reblocking of the area. FILE

In an interview with The Freeman, Seno said that both national and local governments should move away from “band-aid solutions” and instead develop sustainable evacuation sites where displaced families can stay when calamities occur.

He proposed the designation of permanent evacuation areas in both the northern and southern districts of Cebu City, underscoring the need for livable spaces for disaster victims.

“Dapat maghimo ta og site or asa nga area sa north ug south. Ang akoa suggestion, Block 27 ang north, ang sa south didto sa SRP,” Seno said. “Importante ang mga tao nga naa say kapuy-an.”

Barangay Tejero has been hit by two major fires this year, with the first incident occurring in Sitio Riverside on January 10 and the second in Sitio Sagrada on February 5.