After fire hit village Ermita to be declared under calamity state

CEBU, Philippines — Acting Ermita Barangay Captain Efe Rupinta is asking the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) to reblock the fire-stricken areas.

Yesterday, she told The FREEMAN that there is a need to reblock the affected areas since it is the fourth time that the fire hit Sitio Bato.

Sitio Bato was among the areas razed by the fire along with sitios Vendor and Kastilaan.

“Yes (reblocking), actually mao na ang usa sa agenda sa session nga ipa-reblock siya.  Usa sa advantage sa pag-reblock nga makalikay sa emergency,” Rupinta said.

Once reblocking will be implemented in those areas, a 6.5-meter road and 3-meter pathways will be established.

The DWUP will follow the subdivision scheme in arranging the houses of the fire victims so that it will be orderly.

DWUP operation head Genevieve Alcoseba said her technical team will review the subdivision plan which was implemented by the Department of Engineering and Public Works in 2013, whether or not proper reblocking was followed.

“Atong i-check if na-follow ba sa DEPW ang reblocking ana before. Pero sa ako observation sa area bisan pa gituman ang proper distance, daghan ang obstructions, daghan ang naka encroach,” she told The FREEMAN.

She added they will also wait for the assessment report of the Office of the Building Official before completely clearing the area.

Rupinta is planning to establish a parking policy in the barangay, specifically near the Carbon Public Market so that in cases of emergency, responders can penetrate immediately.

Further, Rupinta asked the city government to hasten the releasing of assistance to the fire survivors, saying it should not be politicized.

She said the fire victims need hygiene kits, clothes, food, toiletries, and other necessary materials.

“Dili siya madugay and dili ipamolitika ang pagtabang kay kining tanan lumulupyo sa Barangay Ermita sakop man sa Cebu City nga nanginahanglan sa ilahang tabang.  Kaming tanan botante sa Cebu City,” Rupinta said.

The barangay welcomes any aid from government offices, non-governmental organizations, private individuals and others.

She said they will hold a barangay session to declare a state of calamity and to identify how much funds are available under their calamity account.

Ermita Councilwoman Maria Pino said they will ask the opinion of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) whether or not they are allowed to utilize its calamity funds.

She said they could not easily use the funds taking into consideration that there are only three barangay officials at present.

Earlier, elected barangay captain Mark Miral and six councilmen were suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly not cooperating with the anti-drug operation.

Like Rupinta, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella urged the mayor to reblock the fire-stricken area to avoid the same incident to happen in the future.

He said he will call for a special session in the City Council for the declaration of state of calamity as soon as possible.

“Nianhi ko kay we have sounded up from the Office of the President nga mohatag sila og panabang, maong niari ko karon, nangayo ko og data,” he said.

In a separate interview, fire victim Maria Analyn Llanos hopes that her family can rebuild their house with the help from the city government.

She said it is their second time already that her family was hit by a fire. The first incident happened in 2013.

“Mga senina ra among nasalbar. Dili baya mi kadali-dali og tukod og balay kay construction worker ra tawn akong bana,” she said.

At present, the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) has distributed packed meals to the fire survivors for the period of three days.

They are also validating the list of fire victims for the processing of financial assistance amounting to P20,000 and housing materials for every family.

As of 10:15 p.m. last Tuesday, the DSWS has tallied 287 houses being destroyed by the fire affecting 658 families and 2,686 individuals. — GAN, (FREEMAN)