Hundreds of evacuees in Mandaue City are facing an extended stay in temporary shelters as the continued threat of Tropical Depression Wilma prevents their safe return home. Originally scheduled for release on Friday, December 5, 2025, the displaced families from Barangay Umapad must remain in the barangay gymnasium due to unsafe conditions.
Unsafe Conditions Delay Homecoming
Barangay Captain Reb "Biboy" Cortes confirmed the difficult decision to keep the evacuation center open. He stated that while the plan was to send residents back to their homes on December 5, the persistent dangers posed by Tropical Depression Wilma made it impossible. The safety of the community is the paramount concern.
Captain Cortes provided a preliminary damage assessment, revealing that six to eight houses suffered severe damage. Many other families are refusing to return due to a combination of factors that make their neighborhoods uninhabitable. These critical issues include a continued lack of electricity, an absence of reliable water supply, and widespread flooding that still surrounds their properties.
Residents Relive Past Trauma
For long-term evacuees like Lorena Montebon, the current crisis is a painful echo of previous disasters. She shared that the situation vividly brings back traumatic memories of Typhoon Tino, which previously devastated their home. During that calamity, floodwaters rose so rapidly that her family was forced to climb onto their roof after water inundated the second floor of their house.
Lorena and her family have now been staying at the Umapad Gym evacuation center for nearly a month, highlighting the prolonged nature of this disaster's impact. Their story underscores the vulnerability of communities in flood-prone areas.
A Home Washed Away
The situation is even more dire for resident Nenita Del Carmen. For her, returning home is not merely difficult—it is impossible. She discovered that her house had been completely swept away by the powerful floodwaters. This total loss represents the most extreme end of the damage spectrum and adds to the growing humanitarian challenge facing local officials.
The extended stay at the evacuation center points to a complex recovery ahead for Barangay Umapad. Authorities must now contend not only with immediate storm threats but also with the long-term tasks of restoring utilities, clearing floodwaters, and assisting families like Nenita's who have lost everything.
