Suba fire victims to get cash aid from city, NHA

CEBU, Philippines — On top of the usual financial aid from the Cebu City government, the 638 families who lost their homes to a massive fire in Sitio Santo Niño, Barangay Suba Wednesday night may also get additional cash assistance from the National Housing Authority.

Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will ask the NHA to give P30,000 each fire victim, the same amount it give to the Mabolo fire victims.

He said the city government is also giving each house owner P20,000 while P10,000 for renters and bed spacers.

“I will make a representation that NHA through the office of Senator Bong Go will also provide financial assistance by way of construction materials,” said Labella.

Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) head Dr. Jeffrey Ibones said there were 311 houses destroyed by the fire. They have also validated 638 families or 2,851 individuals affected.

Labella has directed to provide food and other important necessities to the victims who are now temporarily sheltered at the evacuation centers.

“Naa tay gi provide na tents, blankets and tarpaulins for those who like to immediately put up their shelters there,” said Labella.

City Health Department and the Cebu City Medical Center personnel were also stationed at the evacuation centers to provide the fire victims the medical assistance.

The mayor assured that there is no lot problem in the area and that the fire victims can rebuild their houses anytime.

“There is no problem with the area, there is no lot issue because this is an area already classified by the slum improvement and resettlement (SIR),” said Labella.

The city government, however, is looking at the possibility of reblocking the area to ensure emergency access.

“These are already designated spaces since they are SIR, but nonetheless we will have to look into that so that if there is another fire dili ing-ana kadaghan ang ma sunog,” said Labella.

One of the problems encountered by the fire responders during the incident was the lack of emergency access. The fire department received the fire alarm at 6:15 p.m. but it took more than two hours to control the blaze.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Novo Erana, fire investigator, pegged the damage at P1.5 million since most of the houses were made of light materials.

Erana said that based on initial investigation, the fire started from the house of Jerry Cabido whose wife, Liezel, told authorities that they heard an explosion of sorts before the fire broke out.

Erana said they are looking at the possibility that the fire may have been caused by a defective electrical connection.  FPL (FREEMAN)