Fire-hit areas placed under state of calamity

CEBU, Philippines - The fire-stricken villages in Cebu City and Mandaue City have been placed under a state of calamity.

Covered by the declaration in Cebu City are sitios Ulap, Bamboo and Laguna in Barangay Basak while those covered in Mandaue City are Zones Batong, Talong and Camanse in Barangay Paknaan.

In Cebu City, at least 204 houses were razed by the fire last Tuesday morning while at least 40 were burned down and 12 were damaged in Mandaue.

The Cebu City Council said there is an “imperative need” to place sitios Ulap, Bamboo and Laguna under a state of calamity considering the number of residents affected – 304 families or 1,383 individuals.

Apart from the sitios in Barangay Basak, Pardo, also included in the declaration is Sitio Kawayan in Barangay Poblacion, Pardo where 83 houses were destroyed and 153 families lost their homes in the fire last February 18.

Damage in the first last Tuesday is pegged at P16.4 million.

“Resolved to declare Barangays Poblacion, Pardo and Basak, Pardo under state of calamity as a result of the fires which broke out in those areas separately on February 18, 2015 and on March 17, 2015,” part of the resolution reads.

With the declaration, the City Council authorized the use of government resour-ces to extend assistance to the affected families, which would be subjected to accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

Department of Social Welfare Services chief Dr. Ester Concha said they would be distributing financial assistance to the fire victims of Barangay Basak, Pardo. She said the number of people affected may still increase – or decrease – after DSWS validates the names and ownership of the properties affected.

Those whose houses were destroyed will be given P10,000 while those whose houses were damaged will receive P5,000.

In Mandaue City, CSWS Chief Violeta Cavada said 67 families were affected by the fire. Cavada said home owners will receive P10,000 while home renters will received a P5,000.

The victims are housed in tents near the area, as well as the barangay gym.

SFOI Cipriano Codilla of the Mandaue City Fire Department said the fire started at the ceiling of the house owned by Rhona Vi Zamora who was not around when it broke.

Her neighbors were able to save her two children who were sleeping at that time.

Next step

Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said the city will re-block Barangay Basak.

“It would be in a form of onsite relocation. There should be re-blocking however the size of their property might be reduced,” he said.

“There seems to be no problem because, although the lot is a privately-owned, it is now administered by a real estate firm. There is an ongoing process initiated,” he added.

He disclosed that a real estate firm has offered to buy the property and convert it into a socialized housing area.

“There is now an ongoing negotiation with the city government of Cebu with the offer to sell made by the real estate firm,” he said. Initial discussions reportedly started on March 6. — (FREEMAN)