Ermita fire victims have nowhere to go

CEBU, Philippines - Forty-seven families, who are among the victims of the fire that hit Sitio Warwick Barracks, Barangay Ermita, Cebu City last Jan. 11, have nowhere to go if kicked out from the basketball court they are currently occupying.

Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta, who wants them to leave next week, said that the basketball court would be repaired as soon as the budget is out the fire victims should go.

He initially said the fire victims would be driven away by Monday, but changed his mind and said they would be told to leave after typhoon Basyang shall have passed already.

"Wala nako'y labot ani nila. Ako ning papahawaon kay wala na gyud pud tawn tay luna. Di na maayo nga hangtod sa hangtod. Akong mga batan-on dili na kaduwa og basket (I no longer have anything to do with them, I have to make them leave, we have no more space.  It is not also nice that they stay there for good.  The youth have no more place to play basketball," he said.

Unlike the other fire victims, the said families are renters and sharers, or those who share space with relatives. Those who own stalls at the Carbon Public Market in Ermita are also using the structures as homes.

Marina Deligero said she does not know where to live if they would no longer be allowed to stay at the basketball court.

"Wala gyud siyay kabutangan. Wala. Ang ilang tent kuwang (The barangay captain has no place for us. Nothing. Their tents are also lacking," Deligero said.

Rupinta said Mayor Michael Rama thought of letting the 47 families live in the barangay's plaza, but he did not agree.

"Ingon ko ayaw lang kay puy-an niya maguba. Maluoy man ko, pero ayaw lng didto. Maguba niya ang (I told the mayor 'don't' because it would be damaged.  I also pitied the victims, but I cannot have them there. They would damage the) plaza," Rupinta said.

He said the City Government provided 77 tents for market stall owners who were also victimized by the fire if some are left they would be distributed to those occupying the basketball.

The City plans to build 92 modular structures as stalls-cum-homes, with 54 to be constructed at the center of the Freedom Park and Sitio Warwick Barracks portion of the market, 24 in another part of Freedom Park, and 14 in another area of Sitio Warwick Barracks.

Next week, the fire victims who are stall owners would receive a P10, 000 cash assistance from the City, while the renters and sharers would each receive P5,000.

Before the fire hit, at least 500 families live in Sitio Warwick Barracks, 273 of whom were stall owners.— /RHM (FREEMAN)