No need to relocate fire victims in Suba

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has assured victims of Monday evening’s fire in Barangay Suba that they can build their houses back on the same spot.

This, as the fire swept through a lot covered under the city’s Slum Improvement and Resettlement program.

“Basta government property, ato gyud na silang pabalikon. However, ato sang tan-awn, i-survey og balik whether or not there is a need for re-blocking,” said Meriam Fernandez-Escober, head of the city’s Department of Welfare for the Urban Poor (DWUP).

At least 412 individuals or 104 families were left homeless by the fire.

Escober said she will recommend the implementation of re-blocking if the area does not have wide roads where emergency vehicles can pass through.

She also said DWUP will fast-track the validation so that the residents can start constructing their houses.

“Naay nag-tent. Mangita ra tag open space usually, like dalan na wa kaayo gigamit or if naay covered courts sa barangay,” she said.

Escober said it would take at least a week before residents could be allowed to rebuild their houses.

Lea Japson, head of Cebu City’s Department of Social Welfare and Services, said her office is still validating the number of houses affected by the incident, which was initially pegged at 43 houses.

She said the city will also give P20,000 financial assistance to each of the affected families.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Bureau of Fire Protection is now eyeing three possible causes of the fire, including matches being played by kids, unattended cooking, and illegal wire-tapping.

Cebu City Fire Marshal Chief Inspector Rogelio Bongabong said his office is still doing further investigation by inviting witnesses.

Bongabong said accounts from residents showed the fire started from the house of a certain Marife Espinosa, leaving an estimated P500,000 in damages.

“Ang problema lang ngadto is huot kaayo. Dako man ang dalan, ang nakahoot kay ang mga nag-park nga mga sakyanan, vendors. Daghang trisikad, mga tawo. Mao ang problema nga ngalisud pagsulod ang mga firetrucks,” said Bongabong.

Meanwhile, Bongabong has welcomed a new mobile application to be launched by the Sugbutek in cooperation with Cebu City’s Association of Barangay Councils that will allow the public to easily report emergencies, including fire alarms.

The app, called Guardian Command and Control, will help firefighters respond to alarms quicker, said Bongabong.

The application will be officially available to the public by January next year. (FREEMAN)