2 saved from blaze

CEBU, Philippines - Tragedy was averted yesterday during a fire in Sitio Tagutungan, Barangay Suba, Cebu City, after a trisikad driver helped a mother and her month-old son trapped on a terrace climb down to safety as fire was approaching their house.

Justin Baybay, 17, said after he heard screams of an ongoing fire, he put his trisikad aside and rushed to get water.

"Nakadungog man ko sunog ako gipadaplin ako sikad, unya nangita ko og mga tubig sa kilid-kilid bisan naay momho, ako giapil og bubo," he said.

Baybay said as he was doing whatever he could to help when he came upon the sight of a woman and her month-old son trapped in the terrace of the second floor of their house. The fire was fast approaching. 

He said he grabbed a pile of laundry nearby, used it to get on top of a pile of soft drink cases and made his way to the two. He received the baby, taking care to shield the baby from falling embers with his own body.

"Nangayo man og tabang ang babaye nga nagkugos og buwan nga bata, unya duol naman sa ilaha ang kayo mao ako gitapok ang mga panapton ug nikatkat ko sa case sa soft drinks, diin bisan lisod kaayo ko ako gisiguro ang bata sa pag-cover sa ako kamot ug lawas kay aduna may mga aligato nga nagtagak-tagak,” he said.

Taking the baby allowed the mother to be able to climb down the terrace with them.

Baybay, who only finished Grade 5, said he is very happy because despite his educational attainment and humble status in life, he made a difference.

"Dako kaayo nakong kalipay kay bisan trisikad driver lang ko naa koy nahimong maayo," he said.

"Bisan naglisod ko pagkatkat ang kalooy man mao’y nipatigbabaw nako sa dihang nakit-an nako ang bata nga duol na ang kayo nila," he said.

His action drew praise from social media.

“This brave and courageous young man should be given s special recognition by the city government as a good role model of the youths. He can be a good Emergency and Rescue worker someday,” one netizen said.

Boy blamed for fire

The fire razed 66 houses and left 542 people homeless after it struck around 4:20 a.m. yesterday. It was blamed on a candle left unattended by a 10-year-old boy.

The Bureau of Fire Protection-Cebu said they received the alarm around 4:20 a.m. and declared it under control 30 minutes after they arrived at the scene. Fire out was declared at 9:06 a.m. while damage was estimated at P500,000.

Senior Fire Officer 4 Roylin Maratas said the boy woke up at dawn to light a candle since they did not have any electricity, but then dozed off leaving the candle on a plastic chair.

He later woke up to see the chair already on fire. He tried to stamp out the flames with his foot but ended up burning himself instead.

According to his aunt the boy was left in their care after his father was arrested for an undetermined case. She said that, there was one time the boy tried to play with another lit candle but they scolded him fearing that it may cause fire. As a precaution, one of her sibling cut the wires in the house to avoid any kind of fire related accidents.

She added the boy was a mischievous child in the area and would always play with lit candles.

“Kana siya bataa sige na gibadlong nako, pagka-ugma nagduwa na sad og kandila, pirmiro uwan naa na siya suga, ilang wire nila, mao sad ta to, sunog sad ta to, mao to giibot nako wire, giputlan sa ako igsuon, gipawngan og suga. Pag-ugma na gadagkot na pud og kandila, gigukod nako, gipawng niya. Sus pagkakaron na ba, nagdagkot naman pud siya, natug na man mi sa taas, pagmata namo, sunog na g’yud ni, ambak na mi sa bintana, naa pa’y gamay bata giitsa na lang namo,” she said.

The boy is still missing; authorities suspect he ran off due to fear of punishment. The Bureau of Fire Protection is coordinating with Department of Social Welfare and Development to find him.

A resident who lost all of her belongings from the fire, Amelyn Zamora, 38, said that the fire spread quickly in just a few minutes.

“Dako kaayo ang kayo oy mura g’yud og gitayhop, dugay kaayo ang bombero, naa’y bombero gamay, ang kadaghanan dugay kaayo nangabot, paspas kaayo ang kayo,” she said.

Department of Social Welfare and Services immediately assessed the area due to the number of victims in need of basic necessities.

Cecil Pasay, from the emergency staff, said they will be providing relief goods worth P2,000 with canned goods and repacked 3 kilos of rice and disaster kits that include temporary basic utilities and a butane gas stove to residents.

Suba Barangay Captain Joel Sable Sr. said evacuation arrangements were made at the Barangay Suba Sports Complex but many of the victims decided to go to the Sawang Calero Sports complex due to its proximity to Sitio Tagutungan.

“Pag-ulbo g’yud sa kayo diha g’yud ko, dili man kaayo kusog ang hangin, ang mga balay g’yud nga nauna og sunog kanang daan nga gaan-gaan ba,” he said.

“Okay ra man ang bombero bisan lagi madako man ang sunog ang pasanginlan bombero man g’yud. Pananglitan di pa gani madako ang sunog, tabangan pa unta sa mga tawo, wa pa maratol,” he added.

He further said they will coordinate with Cebu City government to assess how to assist the victims rebuild their homes.

Rebuilding

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council head Nagiel Bañacia said the 144 families affected by the fire can still rebuild their houses after the clearing operation.

Bañacia said he was told these families received the titles of their home lots through the Slum Improvement and Resettlement program of the city. However, Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor chief Genevieve Alcoseba said he cannot give further details as her team is still conducting a survey.

Bañacia said he will recommend reblocking the area so the city will establish a walkway so that responders can access the area in case of emergencies.

“Kay ang nasunogan, wala’y dalan, gamay ra. Kinahanglan g’yud nga naay walkway kay lisod makasulod ang mga responders and this is to prevent the same incident if duna’y fire in the future,” he said.

He said there was a fire in the area two years ago but there was no implementation of reblocking. — (FREEMAN)