Lapu-Lapu distributes rice to 85 fire victims

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City has started distributing rice to 85 people who lost their dwellings to a fire in barangay Pusok last Wednesday afternoon.

Social welfare and development officer chief Carmelita Degamo yesterday said the fire victims will receive rice but no canned goods. She said her office "doesn’t store canned goods" because these have expiry dates.

An initial list from the DSWD showed 22 families and 65 renters as victims. So far, the social welfare office had distributed 15 sacks of rice.

Paz Radaza, the wife of Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza, said she will lobby for P3,000 to P5,000 as assistance for each family.

Mrs. Radaza, who will be running for mayor in the May 10 elections, said she, along with her slate for councilor, will be distributing canned goods and noodles to the victims anytime this week.

The cause of the blaze, which was attributed to electrical short circuit, destroyed 24 houses and was the third fire in Lapu-Lapu City from February 13. The second fire occurred in barangay Mactan where four houses were destroyed, also due to electrical short circuit.

To avail of the assistance from the city government, the fire victims need to obtain certification from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and another certification of residency from their barangay as required by the Commission on Audit (COA).

"Usually, the mayor takes out funds from his calamity account but that shelter assistance can not be given unless the applicant can present proof that he is a fire victim and is a resident of the barangay," Degamo said. – Garry B. Lao (THE FREEMAN)