Fire-hit areas in Manila under state of calamity

MANILA, Philippines — Five areas in the city of Manila that were gutted by fire last Sunday, including the depressed community of Isla Puting Bato, have been placed under a state of calamity.

During a session last Tuesday, which was attended by 21 out of the city’s 38 councilors, the Manila city council approved the proposed resolutions that sought to declare portions of District 1 in Tondo and District 4 in Sampaloc as “calamity areas.”

Among the declared “calamity areas” is a “portion of Barangay 20, Zone 2 in District 1” that covers Isla Puting Bato.

Martin Isidro Jr., one of the six councilors from District 1 who proposed the resolution, said the fire that hit Isla Puting Bato rendered a total of 2,114 families homeless.

The city council also approved the resolution filed by District 3 Councilor Ernesto Isip Jr., the city council’s majority floor leader, which sought to declare a state of calamity in Isla Puting Bato.

The proposed resolution adopted a manifestation from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Aside from the 2,114 families or 6,957 people, the huge blaze, which also made headlines overseas, destroyed “about 90 percent of the means of livelihood in business and industrial sectors,” according to Isip.

He said these figures “satisfied the requirements” for the declaration of a state of calamity, as provided under  National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Memorandum Order 60 series of 2019.

The city council also approved resolutions declaring “portions of Barangay 125, Zone 10 and Barangay 135, Zone 12 in District 1 as calamity areas” and “portions of Barangays 489 and 490, Zone 48.”

Isip explained that the declaration of a state of calamity “will hasten the efforts of the city government of Manila especially in relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government, civil society organizations and private sector, which also includes humanitarian assistance.”