103 families lose homes to fire in Mandaue City

CEBU, Philippines — More than 300 individuals have lost their homes in a morning fire that hit a residential area in Upper Northern, Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City yesterday.

Tabok barangay captain Dario Tariman said that the fire victims were currently staying at the barangay gym.

Lawyer John Eddu Ibañez, executive secretary of the Office of the Mayor, said that of the 103 families, 34 are house owners and 69 are renters as of yesterday’s listing.

Ibanez said that the city government will give P10,000 each for structure owners, P5,000 for each renter or sharer family and P2,500 each for lodgers.

“Base lang sa istorya-istorya nga naay transformer nga nibuto,” said Tariman as to the origin of the fire.

But this is not official yet as the fire department is still conducting an investigation.

Fire Officer 1 Denzel Espares, the radio operator of the Mandaue City Fire Station, said that they received the alarm at 8:50 in the morning.

Espares said that the fire was under control at 9:50 in the morning and was fire out at 10:40 in the morning.

MCFS fire marshall, Chief Inspector Noel Nelson Ababon, said that the fire incident reached up to third alarm and the damage is pegged at P280,000.

The Mandaue City Social Welfare and Services Office Disaster Operations immediately conducted profiling and validation of the fire victims, who were also given hot meals for lunch.

Ibañez said that CSWS personnel are also preparing relief packs to be given to the affected families.

A relief pack includes underwear, mat, blanket, pail, plates, towel, clothing, basin and other food items. — GMR (FREEMAN)