Brgy Luz under state of calamity after fire

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has placed Barangay Luz under a state of calamity following the massive fire that hit 128 houses and affected 250 families the other day.

In a resolution, Councilor Nida Cabrera said sitios Abellana, Sta. Cruz, and Sto. Niño need to be placed under a state of calamity so that the city can tap the Quick Response Fund, a part of the 2014 Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, to rehabilitate the area and give assistance to the affected residents. 

Cabrera, herself a resident of Barangay Luz, said the fire victims need immediate relief like food and shelter.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo, head of city’s committee on social services, assured the survivors that they can rebuild their homes.

“There are plans of re-blocking, pero atong i-assure that no one will be displaced because of the fire which is the thrust of Mayor (Michael) Rama,” he said.

He said re-blocking would involve the city’s Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor determining the lot allocations for each affected family.

DWUP chief Collin Rosell said his office will map the area and screen the families for lot allocation.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Services has coordinated with the city health office in looking into the wellbeing of the children affected.

DSWS head Ester Concha said financial assistance will be released tomorrow after the assessment of the affected families. Families whose houses were destroyed will be given P10,000 while those whose houses were partially damaged will receive P5, 000.

She said donations for the fire victims are very much welcome. “Kinsa to ang naay malumong kasingkasing nga pwede makahatag og extra assistance sa nasunogan, open ang barangay hall sa Barangay Luz sa donations.”

Probe

Meanwhile, the city fire department has invited four people in line with its investigation into the fire.

City Fire Marshall Rogelio Bongabong Jr. said the four individuals will be asked to execute affidavits.

“Gibuhat sa atong officer, naghatag tag invitation sa upat ka tawo kauban ang tag-iya sa balay nga sinugdanan sa sunog. Gi-schedule may be ugma or sa Friday sa opisina kay kuhaan nato og affidavit,” Bongabong said.

He said several versions about the cause of the fire surfaced during initial investigation and investigators are hopeful the four people can shed light on the incident.

Witnesses have said the fire started when an electric post near the house of Mario Villaflor sparked but others also said explosions were heard prior to the fire. Still, others said a person was cooking using a butane gas canister allegedly filled with liquefied petroleum gas.

“Naay kuryenti… naay nibuto… naay nagluto butane gi-refuelan ug LPG… ato pa na’ng tan-awn,” Bongabong said.

He disclosed that firefighters SFO4 Angelito Cariño and FO1 Reil Pantojan were injured when they stepped on nails while battling the fire.

A fire hydrant was installed previously in the area but it was reportedly condemned after a road re-blocking two years ago. The nearest fire hydrant is located at the Ayala Business Park and Cebu I.T. Park. in Barangay Apas.

“Naay hydrant sauna apan sa pag-widening na-condemn ang hydrant wala pa nabalik,” Bongabong said.

He called on the public, especially those living in congested areas, to be extra careful when dealing with fire.

“Sama sa kanunay nga pahimangno mag-amping sa kusina, kinahanglan dili pasagdaan always mag-bantay. Tawag dayon sa kabomberohan, kung makaya sa kasilinganan o sa tagbalay nga pawngon ang kayo,” he said. – (FREEMAN)