Gawad Kalinga to build 100 houses for fire victims

A hundred two-story houses will be given free to fire victims in Mandaue City courtesy of the Gawad Kalinga Foundation. These will be built at the site where the fire occurred last Wednesday.

Mandaue City administrator Serafin Blanco said this after a meeting with the officials of the foundation yesterday.

Each house can shelter two families.

Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano has also instructed Blanco to write all the 170 local government units in the country to donate one house each for the fire victims.

Ouano, who is the vice president for the Visayas of the League of Cities said that each house costs about P80,000.

Last Wednesday, more than 1,000 houses mostly made of light materials were reduced to ashes when a fire broke out, lasting about four hours and leaving more than 7,000 individuals comprising 1,500 families homeless in barangay Mantuyong and Guizo.

The city government, through the City Social and Welfare Development, has been receiving donations from different organizations and civic groups including private companies.

The CSWD has also mobilized its community kitchen where its personnel and volunteers cook food for the fire victims. - Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP