PCA to donate seized lumber to fire victims

CEBU – The Philippine Coconut Authority will donate confiscated lumber to the victims of last week’s fire in barangay Basak San Nicolas.

PCA regional manager Diodero Ravelo said the coconut lumber, now impounded after they were seized from a container van last Thursday, will be donated to the victims of the fire last Tuesday.

Ravelo said he expects no one will come forward to claim the seized lumber as these are considered contrabands. The ban to cut and transport coconut lumber is still enforced in the country.

The 8,000 board feet of coconut lumber were confiscated by the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) headed by P. Supt. Ramon Buenafe during an operation last Thursday.

City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC) head Councilor Gerardo Carillo has already coordinating with Ravelo’s office on the donation of the seized lumber.

Sitios Lupa, Bontores and Kamangahan of barangay San Nicolas were declared under state of calamity following the fire, which burned down at least 100 structures and left homeless more than 300 families.

The fire reportedly started at the house of a certain Leonora Tabor where two of her grandchildren were allegedly playing with matches before the incident.

An eight-year-old boy was injured in the incident.

The coco lumber will be distributed to the victims who will rebuild their houses at the same site.

Carillo had said the city may purchase a 300 square meter lot in the area to build a medium-rise condominium for the fire victims. – Ferliza C. Contratista/LPM (THE FREEMAN)