Sen. Gordon of Red Cross visits fire victims

Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, arrived Cebu yesterday to provide assistance and examine the condition of the families left homeless by a fire that swept barangays Mantuyong and Guizo in Mandaue City last week.

Gordon, wearing a PNRC shirt, arrived at the Mactan Cebu International Airport saying his visit will be the first of a series of large-scale operations that the agency planned to undertake for the fire victims.

The fire victims are now temporarily sheltered at the Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School, Norkis Compound, Mandaue City Central School, and the old public market.

The PNRC distributed food packs -each consisting of six kilos of rice, assorted canned goods, noodles, and other compact food- set to last three days.

Used clothing, sanitation kits and tarpaulins were also given out, and the PNRC said that more relief goods are expected for distribution next week. More donations have come in also from other groups and charitable organizations.

Gordon said his team will also assess the situation of the affected families so that specific interventions, such as critical stress debriefing, could be undertaken. He added that PNRC's thrust is to help first those are suffering most.

Gordon took his lunch together with the fire victims right at the evacuation center where they cooked their meals like afritada, bam-i, mongos and sardines.

The City Social Welfare and Development had set a community kitchen in each of the four evacuation centers where its personnel and volunteers cook food for the affected families.

CSWD head Candida Comaingking said that as of March 9, the total number of families affected by the March 7 fire was counted at 1,395 composed of 6,644 people. As of yesterday, however, the number of families rose to 1,501, she said.

The Mandaue City Council has already begun deliberating for the approval of an ordinance for the immediate release of money to help these victims.

Gordon also revealed that he urged Mayor Thadeo Ouano to organize a Red Cross chapter in Mandaue City so that there will be a group that could immediately act on similar situations.

The PNRC chairman defended the presence of Ouano among those who met him at the airport. He said the mayor is his friend and it was he who called Ouano about the visit, not the other way around.

The visit was purely in connection with his being the PNRC chairman, said Gordon.

"To those who are used to politics, they will be disappointed with me," he added.

The PNRC's principles do not allow members to manifest political leanings in such situation.

"We're impartial, independent, neutral," he said.

When told that some sectors have criticized the presence of Team Unity candidate Mike Defensor at the evacuation site the past days, Gordon said he found nothing wrong with candidates helping the victims.

"They should give," he said laughing.

Ouano, meanwhile, announced that carenderia owners, who will be occupying the new public market, will not be allowed anymore to cook their food inside the stalls after a man cooking food started the fire last Wednesday. - Joeberth M. Ocao and Mitchelle Palaubsanon/RAE