City to re-block fire-hit areas before Christmas

CEBU, Philippines - The city government wants to re-block the fire-hit barangays here before Christmas.

City Administrator Atty. Jose Marie Poblete said he is set to meet with residents affected by the fire, as well as officials of the National Housing Authority (NHA).

Most of the areas in Barangay Carreta where at least 100 houses and 2,000 individuals were affected, are under the state housing project.

"We will be inviting them (residents and NHA). Hopefully, we can come up with an agreement and implement it ASAP," Poblete said.

Poblete said it is good that the barangay officials and affected residents favor re-blocking, but specific terms have to be agreed upon by the parties concerned, especially the lot size.

"Under the NHA housing program, lots were distributed unevenly. Gipauyonan ra man gud na kung unsa ang ilang na-occupy nga lots. That is what we have to settle (Under the NHA housing program, lots were distributed unevenly. They just allowed the size of the lots that were already occupied. That is what we have to settle)," Poblete said.

The development map of the re-blocked site will follow as soon as the details of the agreement are finalized.

The city government usually provides food packs to individuals affected by fire for three days.

Apart from this, temporary shelters were also arranged both by city government through Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and Department of Social Welfare Services in coordination with barangay officials.

Yesterday, additional tents from the Red Cross were also put up along M.J. Cuenco Avenue. Earlier, tents were installed inside the Doña Pepang cemetery.

Aside from Barangay Carreta, Barangay Tejero was also affected by the fire last December 10.

Tejero Councilman Garry Lao said the families affected by the fire chose not to stay at an evacuation center.

"We did not provide for evacuation center because we only had nine affected families. When we asked them, they did not want to stay at temporary shelters. We gave them tarpaulin," Lao said.

The barangay is now waiting for a copy of the Cebu City Council resolution that would place barangays Carreta, Tejero and Quiot under a state of calamity.

The fire in Quiot occurred just a few hours after the Carreta-Tejero fire. It happened dawn on December 11 and affected 175 houses. —/JMO (FREEMAN)