Woman dies in Tejero fire

CEBU, Philippines — The 66-year-old woman who went missing as flames gobbled up homes in Sitio Silangan 2, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City on Friday had been found dead yesterday.

The charred remains of Lilian Intrampas, resident of the place, were found inside the comfort room of her house, said Fire Marshall Chief Inspector Noel Nelson Ababon.

Ababon said Intrampas had gone missing since late afternoon of Friday, when the area was hit by the fire, leading neighbors and fire investigators to search for her among the debris yesterday.

Meanwhile, there is a possibility that the 1,328 individuals whose houses were destroyed by the massive fire last Friday can rebuild their structures.

This, as the city’s Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) Head lawyer Meriam Fernandez-Escober said that the city government owns the fire-stricken area.

Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) Acting Head Flora Bartolome said that, as of 12 midnight Friday, their office has recorded an increase in the number of affected families from 220 families to 313 families, from 149 houses to 200 homes, and from 921 individuals to 1,328.

Bartolome said the city has already given them packed meals since Friday night and will continue to give until Monday.

“Okay na ang mga pamilya, naa na sila sa sports complex sa barangay. Ang ubang pamilya nagpuyo sa nasunogan nga lugar pod,” she said.

Aside from the food, the city will also give housing materials and family kit to the fire survivors, she said.

Bartolome added her office will also process the financial assistance of the families, once the validation of the affected families will be finalized next week.

The city government will give P20,000 financial assistance to structure owners, while P10,000 assistance will be given to renters and sharers.

Yesterday afternoon, the Tejero Barangay Council has placed the barangay under a state of calamity to allow them to use its disaster funds to extend assistance to the families.

Councilman Niño Lao said the barangay has yet to specify the immediate needs of the families that will be charged against the disaster funds.

“Pag March, nasunogan man pod among barangay. Nakagamit mi og gamay pod sa among disaster funds, maong amo pang i-check kon pila pod among magamit para sa mga nasunogan karon,” he told The FREEMAN.

Lao said the council will also seek a dialogue with the city’s DWUP to ensure that the affected families can rebuild their houses or they will be given relocation site.

He appealed to the public to give their donations straight to the barangay hall which is located near the gym where the families are currently staying. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/GAN (FREEMAN)

Woman dies in Tejero fire

Rowena D. Capistrano

CEBU, Philippines — The 66-year-old woman who went missing as flames gobbled up homes in Sitio Silangan 2, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City on Friday had been found dead yesterday.

The charred remains of Lilian Intrampas, resident of the place, were found inside the comfort room of her house, said Fire Marshall Chief Inspector Noel Nelson Ababon.

Ababon said Intrampas had gone missing since late afternoon of Friday, when the area was hit by the fire, leading neighbors and fire investigators to search for her among the debris yesterday.

Meanwhile, there is a possibility that the 1,328 individuals whose houses were destroyed by the massive fire last Friday can rebuild their structures.

This, as the city’s Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) Head lawyer Meriam Fernandez-Escober said that the city government owns the fire-stricken area.

Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) Acting Head Flora Bartolome said that, as of 12 midnight Friday, their office has recorded an increase in the number of affected families from 220 families to 313 families, from 149 houses to 200 homes, and from 921 individuals to 1,328.

Bartolome said the city has already given them packed meals since Friday night and will continue to give until Monday.

“Okay na ang mga pamilya, naa na sila sa sports complex sa barangay. Ang ubang pamilya nagpuyo sa nasunogan nga lugar pod,” she said.

Aside from the food, the city will also give housing materials and family kit to the fire survivors, she said.

Bartolome added her office will also process the financial assistance of the families, once the validation of the affected families will be finalized next week.

The city government will give P20,000 financial assistance to structure owners, while P10,000 assistance will be given to renters and sharers.

Yesterday afternoon, the Tejero Barangay Council has placed the barangay under a state of calamity to allow them to use its disaster funds to extend assistance to the families.

Councilman Niño Lao said the barangay has yet to specify the immediate needs of the families that will be charged against the disaster funds.

“Pag March, nasunogan man pod among barangay. Nakagamit mi og gamay pod sa among disaster funds, maong amo pang i-check kon pila pod among magamit para sa mga nasunogan karon,” he told The FREEMAN.

Lao said the council will also seek a dialogue with the city’s DWUP to ensure that the affected families can rebuild their houses or they will be given relocation site.

He appealed to the public to give their donations straight to the barangay hall which is located near the gym where the families are currently staying. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/GAN (FREEMAN)