Victims can rebuild on same lot

CEBU, Philippines - After 55 houses were destroyed in two blazes that hit Sitio Silangan Uno, Barangay Tinago, Cebu City, Barangay Captain Domingo Lopez assures his constituents that they can rebuild their new houses where their old houses stood.

Domingo announced this through The FREEMAN yesterday after his constituents voiced out their worries that they might not be allowed to rebuild their homes.

He said that the burned houses are situated on a lot owned by the National Government.

“Walay problem ang atong mga constituents kay sa gobyerno mani nga mga luna,” he said.

According to him, he has not heard of any report since he became the barangay captain of Tinago that the land will be used by the government. Domingo also said that since last June this year, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) conducted a road widening project near the fire scene.

“Nagpakita lang ni nga wala gyu’y plano sa pagkakaron nga gamiton ang lugar,” he said.

He also stressed that the two fires were not caused by arson. He added that the fire department’s investigations are showing that electrical misuse caused both fires on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Yesterday, they held an emergency session to declare the affected areas of Wednesday’s fire under a state of calamity to enable them to tap their calamity fund.

The funds, according to him, will be used to purchase cooking materials, laundry equipment and other immediate needs of the victims. The City Hall promised to distribute construction materials.

Over 500 individuals were affected by the two blazes, said Domingo.

Last Tuesday’s fire affected 38 households wherein seven were damaged while the rest were destroyed. An additional eight houses were added to the list after a fire broke out at the same area.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the two fires. All of the burned houses were made of light materials.

Domingo promises that they would intensify their fire-awareness campaign in coordination with the Cebu City Fire Department. (FREEMAN)