Brgy capt: Firemen did not listen to us

CEBU, Philippines - Carreta Barangay Captain, Eduardo Lauron said that he was very disappointed at some firefighters who did not listen to their instructions where to go during Wednesday’s fire.

He said some did not listen to their directions where they can better penetrate the interior portion of Sitio Ponce 2 in Barangay Carreta to extinguish the fire.

“Mo-coordinate unta ang mga bombero sa mga tawo kay wala man suhito sa atong lugar. Kay ang mga residente unta sa maong lugar maoy mo-guide nila asa sila mo sulod aron di mokalat ang kayo,” he said.

Lauron reportedly asked a group of volunteers to focus their hoses in a part of Sitio Ponce where the fire was raging viciously but the team leader allegedly did not heed his request and the fire spread fast.

“Ang mga bombero mo-ingon nga di mi makasulod sa lugar -kon mao na inyong gisulti, sakto mo, apan sakto pud mi, kay kami nga nag puyo sa lugar dapat maminaw mo namo,” he said.

“Sa kadaghan sa bombero, gamay pa ang kayo, di pa ka palong kay sige lang og pasirit bisa’g wala ang kayo…useless kaayo ba! Mura’g nakita nato na mura’g gikabuangan lang ta aron ma buhatan ta og kalsada,” he said.

The Cebu City Hall promised to send 50 tents to Carreta to be used by the affected families. Twelve portable toilets were also placed in strategic areas where affected families are currently camping.

Lauron said some of the affected families are currently housed in the Carreta Elementary School and their sports complex while waiting for the tents.

The barangay has also secured over P200,000 as calamity found to buy tarps to be used a temporary shelter instead of building materials. This is after city hall’s plan of re-blocking.

Following the 45 minute blaze last Wednesday, the Department of Social Welfare and Service as of yesterday noon listed 1,417 affected individuals in Barangay Carreta and another 835 in Barangay Tejero or a total of 2,252 individuals.

Around 341 houses were destroyed in Barangay Carreta and 190 in Barangay Tejero or 531 in total.

Most of the houses were made of light materials.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young told Mayor Michael Rama to create a permanent “re-blocking team” to take charge of re-blocking all crowded communities in the city before another fire strikes.

Young said that team may initially compose of the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor and the Squatters Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division.

Young said that re-blocking will already include the opening of a road network has been done in Barangay Tinago before when a fire struck one of the sitios.

Former Mayor Tomas Osmeña ordered to put a road network in the middle and re-block the entire area to provide easy access to fire trucks and other emergency vehicles during emergencies.

At first they had a hard time, Young said. It took them two months to convince the residents who complained after learning that the lot they are occupying will be reduced after the re-blocking.

“They were convinced when another fire occurred. You see, most of these people in the crowded areas are squatters,” Young said, “they’re squatters so they should not make it hard for us to help them. We are doing this for them.”

Meanwhile, Young said, they will encourage more fire drills in schools to refresh the students every now and then on what to do during emergencies such as fire.

Young said it was a good thing they conducted the fire drills in all schools during the start of classes and not wait until the fire prevention month.

The fire drill proved helpful for over 1,400 students of the Carreta Elementary School who evacuated the school premises in an orderly manner when the school was under threat by the fire.

Carreta Elementary School is surrounded by houses, most of which were destroyed during the fire.

Just when the fire broke, the security officer Alfredo Jumao-as, who is also a teacher, rang the bell that signaled students it was time to evacuate the school premises. The security officer said no one was hurt because the students did not panic as they were taught.

Young said they will also check all the fire exits in schools after the incident. 

Meanwhile, the Capitol is waiting for the final list of fire victims in the two barangays before it can release the relief assistance.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has already instructed the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office to assess the situation and to coordinate with its counterpart in Cebu City where the barangays belong.

The province has been giving sacks of rice, sardines, canned meatloaf and instant noodles that can easily be cooked by the victims.

PSWDO action officer Wilson Ramos said that same items will be distributed in Carreta and Tejero as soon as they can get the final list of the fire victims.

Cash assistance will only be given to families of fatalities. (FREEMAN)