CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama has ordered the immediate re-blocking of the area hit by a massive fire in Sitio Kalubihan, Brgy Sambag 2, including the surrounding densely populated areas.
The fire last Monday displaced 177 families out of 92 households since it immediately spread from Sitio Kalubihan to the neighboring sitios—Grupa and Riverside, according to the City’s News and Information team.
Estimated damage from the fire is at P7.5 million, the Cebu City Fire Department said.
Rama said he wants the entire area re-blocked, starting from the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).
He told concerned departments he does not want to delay it even further.
Further, the mayor called concerned city officials right away after the fire broke and discussed their plans to aid those affected by the fire.
It was also agreed that fire victims will be housed at the high school building of the City Central School as suggested by the Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu City Schools Division.
Rama also instructed Department of General Services head and assistant city administrator Ian Hassamal to immediately reinforce the command center to address the needs of the fire victims along with the assistance of DSWS personnel.
Rama reportedly had been telling concerned departments and barangay officials to do preventive re-blocking.
The mayor had even warned barangay officials that he will withhold their yearly aid and share from the Local Development Fund if they refuse to re-block communities that are at risk of fires. — (FREEMAN)