CEBU, Philippines — Fire victims in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City can now rebuild their houses after securing an entry permit from the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP).
DWUP Operation Chief Genevieve Alcoseba said her office issued entry permits to at least 70 homeowners, who were given the green light to start the construction.
The entry permit stipulates the measurement of the lot where the affected homeowner is authorized to rebuild the house.
As of Tuesday, 10 homeowners began building their houses.
To allow emergency vehicles to pass in case of another fire, the city implemented a reblocking scheme in the fire-stricken area to open access roads with a width of 6.5 meters in consonance with the standard subdivision plan.
The establishment of a 3-meter pathway is also part of the scheme.
Alcoseba said the lot allocations of some families were reduced owing to the provision of access roads.
But those with titled lots will not be affected, she said.
On December 25, 2018, a fire hit sitios Buli, Mansanitas, Catwalk, San Pedro, Plastikan, Pasong Kabayo and Punyang, all in Barangay Duljo-Fatima.
The fire razed 391 houses, displacing 659 families or 2,700 individuals.
Meanwhile, DWUP is waiting for the Office of the Building Official’s assessment report on the structural integrity of several houses and buildings in Barangay Ermita, which was struck by fire last February 5.
Three sitios, such as Bato, Vendor, and Kastilaa, were affected.
DWUP will implement a reblocking scheme once OBO’s assessment is done. — KBQ (FREEMAN)