Paknaan fire victims to get cash aid

CEBU, Philippines — Fire victims in Mandaue City will receive financial assistance after the massive fire that displaced more than 250 families in Barangay Paknaan last Sunday.

Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede told reporters on Tuesday, March 25, that families with partially damaged homes will receive ?5,000, while those whose homes were completely destroyed will receive ?10,000 in financial aid.

Bercede said that the city government has already prepared for the distribution of financial aid, which is set tomorrow, March 27, 2025.

The city mayor said they expedited the process, knowing that the fire victims are struggling with their situation.

“Gipaspasannamoaronmahataggyuddayon,” said Bercede.

Bercede said he is simply continuing the initiative of former Mayor Jonas Cortes, emphasizing that assistance should not be delayed, especially in times of emergency.

The city mayor recalled that in the past, it would take up to a month since council approval was needed. However, now that it is already a city law, financial assistance can be provided immediately in times of emergency.

“Gipadayonnakoanggibuhatni Mayor Jonas ngamahatagradayon two days or three days after the incident,” said Bercede.

City Councilor Jennifer Del Mar, chairperson of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, also told The Freeman that financial assistance is now automatically provided in times of emergency, such as fire incidents.

Del Mar said that since the city already has an existing ordinance providing financial assistance to victims, they can immediately distribute aid once the complete list of beneficiaries is available.

“Dilinanasiyakinahanglanog resolution kay existing nana siya,” Del Mar explained.

The city councilor said that the City Social Welfare Services (CSWS) will be responsible for distributing the financial aid to the families affected by the fire.

Del Mar added that the number of beneficiaries is still being determined as the CSWS continues profiling the victims.

As of 3:30 p.m. on March 25, 2025, the CSWS recorded 194 destroyed houses and five partially damaged ones.

The total number of affected families has risen to 256, displacing at least 919 individuals.

Bercede said that the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, along with the CSWS, is stationed at the 6.5 evacuation center in Barangay Paknaan to assist and facilitate the evacuees.

The city mayor assured that the fire victims are being well taken care of, especially with the provision of hot meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner during their stay at the evacuation center.

For now, Bercede said they are prioritizing immediate relief assistance for the victims while he assesses whether they can return to their respective areas.

As reported, a massive fire broke out in Zone Talong, Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City, on the night of Sunday, March 23, 2025, making it the largest fire incident in the city this March.

Fire Officer 1 (FO1) Neil Amancio of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Mandaue confirmed that the fire started at 7:34 p.m. in a two-storey house.

The blaze quickly escalated to a fourth alarm due to the high density of light-material structures in the area, ultimately damaging over 6,000 square meters.

Amancio told reporters on Monday that the fire in Barangay Paknaan is the largest this year, surpassing three other incidents earlier this month in Barangays Mantuyong, Ibabao, and Canduman.

Firefighters responded at 7:35 p.m. and raised the fire to the second alarm at 7:44 p.m., then to the third alarm at 7:55 p.m. By 8:04 p.m., it had reached the fourth alarm as flames rapidly spread to neighboring houses.

Firefighters had the fire under control by 9:27 p.m. and declared it fully extinguished at 10:37 p.m.

The estimated damage to properties has been valued at ?3 million.

Amancio said that initial investigations suggest faulty electrical wiring as the possible cause of the fire, but further investigation is still needed.

With the four fire incidents that have already occurred in the city, Councilor Del Mar reminded Mandauehanon residents to stay vigilant—not only because of the hot weather but also by being cautious with electrical wiring, short circuits, and unattended candles or chargers.

“Para samgatagaMandaue, magmatngon and maglikay ta, especially that March is fire prevention month,” said Del Mar.

Del Mar noted that since residential areas were the main victims of the four fire incidents in the city this month, these common causes should be avoided to prevent further occurrences. — (FREEMAN)