Residents Struggle as Power Outages and Mud Persist After Typhoon
Five days after Typhoon Tino battered northern Cebu, residents of Barangay Cotcot in Liloan continue to face significant challenges with no electricity restoration and streets still clogged with thick mud. The situation has prompted growing concerns about potential health hazards emerging from the storm's aftermath.
Health Concerns Mount Over Foul Odors
Local residents have expressed alarm about the persistent foul odor permeating their communities, which they believe originates from decomposing animal carcasses and possibly human remains trapped in the debris. The stench has become increasingly unbearable, raising fears about disease outbreaks and respiratory problems.
One resident from Villa Azalea subdivision voiced their frustration through the Cebu People's Action Center Facebook page on November 8, 2025, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive cleanup operations. "If we survived the typhoon itself, our health might be the next casualty because the smell has become really intense," the resident stated, noting that no cleanup efforts had been visible in their area despite five days passing since the typhoon struck on November 4, 2025.
Conflicting Accounts Between Residents and Officials
The Liloan municipal government issued a public statement on Saturday addressing circulating reports about the foul odor in Villa Azalea and Villa Lara subdivisions. Local authorities denied the allegations of ongoing problems, claiming the matter had "already been addressed" and that their clearing operations had successfully discovered and removed dead animals from the affected areas.
However, residents countered these claims, asserting that officials remained on the periphery of affected subdivisions without venturing into the most damaged interior areas. Survivors reported being forced to conduct their own cleanup efforts due to insufficient equipment and manpower from the municipal government.
Another community member expressed disappointment through social media about the delayed government response and limited operating hours for clearing operations. The resident also highlighted concerns that some affected communities were being neglected unless their situations gained viral attention on social media platforms.
As of Sunday, November 9, SunStar Cebu's attempts to contact the Liloan Municipal Government for updates on the ongoing clearing operations remained unanswered, leaving residents uncertain about when normalcy might return to their typhoon-ravaged community.
