EVACUEES in Itogon, Benguet are asked to leave the evacuation center and not to return to their houses which are declared as geohazard zones after a landslide occurred at level 070 in Ucab which left almost a hundred dead and more than 50 missing.

Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said the 418 evacuees seeking shelter at Alejo Memorial National High School need to vacate the area as classes resumed September 24.

The executive chief said only 18 expressed to go back to Ifugao.

Among the declared danger zones are Sitio First Gate in Barangay Ucab and Sitio Luneta in Barangay Loacan.

"Out of the 418, only 18 signified to go back to Ifugao. Paano iyong (What about the) 400?" Palangdan said.

Councilor Noel Bilibli, also Itogon Association of Barangay Councils president, said members of the municipal council on Friday are conducting assessment for the possible relocation site seen within Benguet Corporation area in Loacan.

As per meeting with the evacuees, they want to go back, however, there areas are declared danger zones, added Bilibli.

Palangdan also asked the mining firm of aid and provide available land areas for the relocation of the evacuees.

Retrieval operations at level 070 continue.

Marlo Iringan, regional director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said the National Bureau of Investigation have 11 teams set and task to match the unidentified victims to be compared later on with the relatives.

Iringan added the retrieval will continue when necessary.