The remaining evacuees in Himamaylan City have returned home, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said on Wednesday, October 19.
The Philippine Army informed the Himamaylan Incident Management Team (IMT) that sitios Medel, Campaya and Sig-ang had been cleared.
The IMT distributed family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, assorted donated goods, medicines and vitamin supplements to the evacuees, and provided them with transportation to return home, Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson said in a statement.
Tongson thanked all those who provided assistance in the near two-week stay of the evacuees in the evacuation centers.
“Please continue praying for our city and our people,” he said.
The residents of the three sitios evacuated on October 6 following armed encounters between 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers and New People’s Army rebels.
Pasaporte said they did not allow the residents to return home until their villages were cleared to ensure their safety.
Classes in barangays Carabalan and Cabadiangan resumed on Wednesday.*