In Subangdaku, Mandaue City: Hundreds lose homes in blaze

CEBU, Philippines - Over a thousand families are believed to have lost their homes in sitio Aroma, barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City in the biggest fire to hit Cebu ironically this “Fire Prevention Month.”

Three people were also injured in the blaze that razed almost the sitio.

Figures on the number of victims are still being verified by authorities from the City Social Welfare Department, but Subangdaku barangay captain Walter Dy said that in the most recent census, there were 1,200 houses listed with almost 2,000 families living in the lot owned by the Tanchan family.

This is the third time that the place has been hit by fire the past 14 years.It was first hit in 1996 and again in 2003.

The Mandaue City Fire Department received the call at 2:15 p.m. and the fire was put under control in 20 minutes.

 Fire Marshall Rogelio Bongabong said that the fire quickly spread throughout the whole sitio as most houses were made of light materials.

 Bongabong said that two of those injured were identified as Fe Nabua and Ramon Formentera, who were hurt by broken glass while trying to salvage their belongings.

A third person was also brought to the Mandaue City Hospital for minor burns.

 Bongabong also said that only few were able to save for their belongings as most were renters, who are working in the nearby establishments at the Reclamation Area.

 He said that the cause of the fire is still to be investigated, but they have reports coming from some of the victims that the fire originated in the house of a certain Daisy Padronia, who left her cooking as she was selling water to her neighbors.

 Padronia vehemently denied having left her cooking saying that she was not anymore doing anything in the kitchen as it was already way past lunchtime.

 Bongabong said that they will also look into the possibility of an electrical fault.

 As of 6 p.m., barangay captainDy said that he saw about 15 houses still standing, but these were also partially damaged.

 He said that Mayor Jonas Cortes immediately sent tents in the area to serve as temporary shelter for the victims, who would not leave the place for fear that its owner would fence the lot and not allow them to rebuild their homes.

 Dy said that when the a fire hit the place in 2003, the Tanchan family informed the barangay of their intention to use the one-hectare lot.

 Both Cortes and Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna immediately arrived at the fire scene.

 Cortes immediately convened the City Disaster Coordinating Council yesterday and ordered for the declaration of sitio Aroma as a calamity area.

This is the first fire to hit Mandaue City this March, which has been declared as the “Fire Prevention Month.” — /NLQ(FREEMAN NEWS)