14 classrooms house Duljo fire survivors

CEBU, Philippines - At least 14 rooms of San Nicolas Elementary School in Barangay Duljo-Fatima are being used as temporary shelter for residents of the barangay who lost their houses in the fire Thursday night.

Quoting the school principal, Nagiel Bañacia, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said the school decided to accommodate the survivors for at least seven days because several of them are also teachers of the school.

"Actually, ang 90 to 95 percent sa ni-occupy nga rooms are fire victims. Some of the fire victims are teachers too maong nisabot ang skwelahan," he said.

"Last Friday, walay nanunga sa klase kay kadaghanan sa 14 rooms puros victims pod. Each room, naay 18 families. Gi-accommodate kay kun papahawaon, walay mangskwela kay we have not stabilized and normalized the situation," he said.

He said the school will also hold make-up sessions for classes whose rooms are being used.

The fire, which started near midnight Thursday and last until past 1 a.m. Friday razed 531 houses and affected 602 families or 2,722 individuals.

It was considered the biggest fire that hit the city this year, so far.

Bañacia said the city government will evaluate the survivors because some are allegedly posturing as victims even if they are not.

"Right now, we're trying our best to fast track everything," he said.

Tomorrow, Monday, the city will meet with the families affected before it starts to reblock the area hit by the fire.

"At least, out of that consultation, we can make some adjustments. Then a few days after that, mag-conduct na mi sa big crowd nga consultation ug i-present to namo ang proposal through projector para mas masabtan nila ang mahitabo," said Genevieve Alcoseba, head of the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor.

Alcoseba said the city government will start clearing the fire-stricken area also on Monday to establish eight 6.5-meter-wide roads so that responders have access roads in case of emergencies.

"Unya ako man sad gung nakita, makit-an nato sa mga lugar nga naay kalsada nga mas minus gyud ang krimen. Then you know Duljo, gated man gud siya, so mao na nga ma-seclude ang mga bad activities. With the existence of proper roads, of course, we’re expecting reactions from the crowd, but the city has the authority to implement what would be best for the welfare of the general public," she said.

DSWD aid

Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development - 7 information officer Leah Quintana told The FREEMAN the agency will distribute food packs to the fire victims today at the San Nicolas Elementary School.

The non-food items that will be given out consist of dining utensils, hygiene kits, and sleeping materials.

Yesterday, 48 families in Barangay Carreta last November 28 claimed the assistance from DSWD. Last Thursday, December 1, DSWD-7 also gave out food packs and non-food items to the families affected by the fire in Barangay Suba. At least 208 of the 218 listed families have claimed the aid.

Quintana said the lists of the affected families were based on the data validated by social workers at the City Hall's Department of Social Welfare and Services. (FREEMAN)