Mandaue's social welfare office going through list of fire victims

CEBU, Philippines - The City Social Welfare Service in Mandaue City will put through a sieve the list of persons who lost their houses to a fire last Jan. 16 in sitio San Lorenzo Ruiz in barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City in order to isolate the real fire victims from those who claim to be.

CSWS Violeta Cavada said some people who were renters at the time of the fire appear in the list as house owners.

The list has a total of 286 persons listed as fire victims, which Cavada said is improbable.

An authentic data is important because this would serve as the basis for a budget appropriation from the calamity fund for the financial assistance.

After the fire, Mayor Jonas Cortes immediately convened the City Risk Reduction and Management Council for the adoption of a resolution asking the city council to place sitio Lorenzo Ruiz under a state of calamity and to access the calamity fund for financial assistance: P10,000 was suggested for house owners and P5,000 for renters and sharers.

Cortes also asked for six breathing apparatuses, a response vehicle for CSWS, and another vehicle as command center.

The council approved the resolution.

Cavada said barangay officials will submit today the validated list of fire victims to be attached in a payroll as basis for the release of financial assistance by the city treasurer’s office.

On the other hand, fire victims in barangay Looc in Mandaue City will also receive financial assistance from the city government.