Non-owners cannot return after Tejero fire

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has placed Barangay Tejero under a state of calamity after it was hit by fire a few days ago.

With the declaration, the city government can now use the city’s calamity fund to help the fire victims, like the distribution of food and P10,000 distribution financial assistance and food.

Tejero’s barangay council had also immediately placed the barangay under a state of calamity so it could utilize its P70,000 barangay calamity fund to support the needs of the victims.

Tejero Barangay Councilor Garry Lao said the victims will receive their P10,000 cash assistance from the city government tomorrow morning

He, however,  said 17 families who are sharers and 35 families who are renters are now finding houses to transfer to since they cannot go back in the scene anymore.

Lao assured that the 32 families who are owners can go back and build their homes as soon as the place is cleared of debris.

The fire, which destroyed at least 32 houses in Villagonzalo II last Monday, left 83 families homeless in Villagonzalo II.

Ester Concha, Cebu City Department of Social Welfare and Services chief, earlier said that the city government is giving the victims free meals for three days.

Sarian Roque, Tejero barangay secretary, said the victims are currently occupying the barangay’s sports complex.

“Didto lang namo sila gipa-stay. Mas safe man didto kumpara sa dapit sa nasunugan (We had them stay at the barangay sports complex because they are safer),” she said.

Based on initial investigation, the fire started at the house of a certain Reynaldo Lañas and quickly spread to other houses, which were all made of light materials.

Authorities believe that a kerosene lamp, a candle, or a mosquito coil might have caused the fire because Lañas had no electrical connection at the time when the fire broke out.  — (FREEMAN)