City Hall assures fire victims can rebuild houses

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government has assured the fire victims in Poblacion Pardo that they can rebuild their houses.

Lawyer Collin Rosell, chief of the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor, made the assurance following fire victims’ apprehensions that they could no longer rebuild their houses because the lot they occupy is privately-owned.

“Dili man rason ang sunog nga dili sila makabalik,” Rosell said.

He said that DWUP will conduct community mapping and screening today to identify the structure owners in the area. Those people that cannot be accommodated are the renters and sharers, he said.

However, he said that renters will receive financial assistance from the city government.

DWUP will try its best to hasten the process so that residents can go back to their areas early next week.

“Wala gyod ta mo-target nga dili makabalik ang tanan kay sa re-blocking, maghimo man ta’g dalan so atong i-adjust ang measurements para makabalik gyod tanang structure owners,” he said.

Rosell said that his office will trace the owner of the land today, but assured the residents that they can rebuild at the area regardless of whether or not the lot is privately-owned.

According to the latest data from the Department of Social Welfare and Services, over 600 individuals were left homeless by a fire that hit Sitio Kawayan, Upper Lucimba, Barangay Poblacion Pardo Wednesday afternoon.

DSWS chief Ester Concha said that the city government has given food packs to the fire victims who are currently staying at the barangay gym. The food ration will continue within the next three days.

Concha said that the city government will also provide financial assistance. Those whose houses were razed by fire will receive P10,000 each while P5,000 for those whose houses were partially burned.

She said that there are 69 totally burnt houses and four partially damaged as per validation of the DSWS.

“Magpadayon gihapon ang atong validation and naay possibility nga mapun-an pana nga data,” she said, adding that her office will try to release the assistance on Monday.

Concha said that the city government will also give housing materials to the fire survivors. The Cebu City fire department is still conducting investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Pier Angelo Abellana, arson investigator, has invited Jufril Malacora, 27, today to shed light in the investigation following reports that the fire started in the house he occupied.

The fire department received the alarm at 4:22 p.m. and was declared under control at 5:03 p.m. The damage was pegged at P300, 000.

The firefighters had difficulty penetrating the area because of lack of access road.  (FREEMAN)