Mandaue City: Re-blocking eyed in 2 sitios hit by fire

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede has ordered to assess the areas in Barangay Looc and Barangay Opao for possible re-blocking, following last week’s massive fire that ravaged Sitio Orchids and Sitio Pokang.

Bercede has tasked the Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO) to evaluate the areas to ensure proper infrastructure is in place before residents return to their homes.

“Sa pagkakaron giuna nato ang ilang kahimtang. Mao na ang next ani, before sila mubalik at least ma determine na nato,” said Bercede during the Tabang Mandaue program yesterday.

The mayor highlighted the challenges firefighters faced during the fire due to narrow pathways and the lack of access roads. Re-blocking, he said, would help address these issues and ensure safety in the event of future incidents.

“Wala gyuy makasod nga bombero. Didto sa atop nalang nangagi,” Bercede recalled, referencing the fire that broke out on Friday, January 24.

The fire, which spread quickly through the residential areas, prompted authorities to raise the alarm to the fourth level at 5:45 PM. Firefighters contained the blaze by 7:07 PM and declared it “fire out” at 7:33 PM. The damage was estimated at P3.25 million.

For now, Bercede said the city government is prioritizing relief efforts for the affected families. The City Social Welfare Services (CSWS) spearheaded the distribution of financial assistance to the victims. Families renting homes received P5,000, while homeowners were given P10,000 to help them recover and rebuild.

While some fire victims have expressed their desire to return to their homes, Bercede emphasized that safety must come first. He plans to work with private landowners to push for re-blocking efforts.

“Atong aw-hagon sila para sa kaayuhan sa mga namuyo ba,” Bercede said, noting that disasters are unpredictable and could strike again. “Di man ta kahibaw sa incident ba nga basin mubalik na sad simbako.”

Looc Barangay Captain Raul Kevin Cabahug confirmed that the affected areas are a mix of government-owned and privately-owned properties.

One resident, Jill Garcia, whose home was destroyed in the fire, voiced her support for re-blocking but stressed that roads should also be widened. She cited difficulties in accessing the area, recalling an incident when an ambulance couldn’t reach a neighbor in need because of the narrow roads.

“Ang amoa lang unta nga naa mi diri matagaan sad mi og way nga makaagi sad ang mga sakyanan,” said Garcia.

She also noted that they were fortunate the fire happened in the afternoon because if it had happened in the morning, everything would have been completely burned.

“Importante nga hawan gyud ang kalsada kay dili naman makasod tungod aning mga motor, mga auto,” Garcia added.

As informal settlers, Garcia admitted they might not have the standing to challenge nearby institutions like the university, but she expressed a willingness to coordinate with their barangay captain to find solutions.

Currently, at least 477 individuals are being housed in evacuation centers at the barangay gyms in Looc and Opao. — (FREEMAN)