ILOILO City – “Lumpat kamo sa suba, kitaay na lang ‘ta sa San Juan.”
These were the instructions Donna Arenaza of Barangay West Habog-Habog, Molo district gave her three children as they scampered away from the fire inching closer to their house early morning on Saturday.
Barangay San Juan was adjacent to Habog-habog. The suba she was referring to was the Batiano River which was near their house.
“Wala na kami gwaan. Suba na lang gid kay ang entrance kag exit (to our neighborhood) isa lang. Ang way nga agyan namon tani pagwa may kalayo na,” Arenaza told Panay News.
Batiano River is a waterway having an approximate length 17.5
kilometers. It originates from Barangay Santa Clara, Oton Iloilo and stretches to Barangay Villa Alegre, Molo, then empties into the Iloilo Strait.
The river actually passes through the town of Oton, and Iloilo City’s Arevalo and Molo districts. Its main usage to the public is for aquaculture purposes.
Arenaza, a daycare center teacher, said she and her husband – a delivery man and part-time tricycle driver – were awaked by the shouting of a young neighbor urging them to get out of the house and flee because the fire was getting close.
The 38-year-old mother said there was no other way out for them but the Batiano River, and thankfully the river’s water level was low. She had her children aged 19, 13 and 11 years old – and many other residents in her neighborhood fleeing the fire – made it to safety.
“Samtang indi pa daku ang kalayo ginpahingagaw ko akon kabataan palagyo. Hambal ko, ‘Di bale wala kamo dala, importante masalbar ang kaugalingon niyo,’” said Arenaza.
The only things she managed to secure was her bag with some important documents and a cell phone.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said he would discuss the narrow barangay pathways and obstructions along the way with barangay officials. Fire trucks had a hard time penetrating the area.
Arenaza’s family is taking shelter at the Baluarte Elementary School together with other displaced barangay residents.
“Wala man kami ginapabay-an sang syudad. Halos tanan nga bulig ginahatag man nila sa amon. Amo na ginapasalamatan namon,” saidArenaza.
But she couldn’t brush off her anxiety.
“Wala kami kabalo kon asta san-o ‘ni siya, kon paano kami ma-umpisa. Mabudlay para sa amon. Back to zero gid,” said Arenaza.
She is also unsure if all of them informal settlers occupying the fire-razed neighborhood would be allowed to return.
“Kon pasugtan kami makabalik, salamat gid. Pero kon indi, wala kami kabalo kon diin kami mangita ilistaran,” said Arenaza.
Leaving their worries for the meantime, Arenaza said they are banking on the assistance of the city government through the city mayor and Cong. Julienne Baronda.
Treñas said the city government has sufficient financial assistance, and added that Sen. Bong Go and Uswag Ilonggo party-list’s Rep. Jojo Ang may also extend help.
Arenaza said they are willing to be relocated if the city government will provide them a relocation site.
“Ti, wala man kami choice – either mapuli kami sa tagsa-tagsa namon ka mga probinsya or ma-stay kami di,” she said.
Though a native of Capiz province, Arenaza grew up and has lived much of her life in Iloilo City./PN
