Fire-hit Manila barangay under state of calamity

MANILA, Philippines — The city council of Manila has declared Barangay 310, Zone 31 in Sta. Cruz under a state of calamity following a fire that destroyed nearly the entire barangay last week.

During a session last Thursday, the council approved a resolution affirming the declaration. The resolution was authored by District 3 Councilors Timothy Oliver Zarcal, Pamela Fugoso, Maile Atienza, Terence Alibarbar, Johanna Nieto-Rodriguez and Ernesto Isip Jr.

Putting Barangay 310 under a state of calamity would allow constituents displaced by the fire to receive “proper assistance,” Zarcal said.

He reported that a total of 4,343 persons – comprised of 1,201 families and 63 “unattached individuals” – lost their homes to the fire.

Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan said the city government and District 3 Rep. Joel Chua would give financial assistance to the victims.

The fire broke out before dawn on May 14 and left one person dead and four others injured.

The blaze also destroyed the roof of the walkway that links the Light Rail Transit Line 2’s Recto station and the Doroteo Jose station of LRT Line 1.