Mandaue fire victims may rebuild homes soon

CEBU, Philippines -  The Mandaue City government is expecting to transfer back to Barangays Guizo and Mantuyong next month the families that were displaced by the fire that hit the areas in March this year.

The families are staying temporarily at the dilapidated Cebu International Convention Center.

The city government has allocated around P20 million to rehabilitate the areas hit by the fire. The amount covers backfilling installation and the establishments of a drainage system and riprap.

Lawyer Mae Elaine Bathan, chief of staff of Mayor Luigi Quisumbing, said the backfilling materials are what caused the delay in the rehabilitation works.

"If you look at the volume of the backfilling materials donated, that's the one that is actually slowing down the process because we are relying on the donations from the contractors of the filling materials," Bathan said.

The Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO) has allowed 873 beneficiaries to rebuild their homes at the site.

However, since each beneficiary family will get 28 square meters, only 359 families may be expected to return to the areas. (FREEMAN)