Reblocking eyed after Lorega fire

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has recommended a reblocking in Sitio Riverside, Barangay Lorega after a fire hit the area last Monday.

CCDRRMO chief Nagiel Bañacia said that reblocking is necessary to prevent a similar situation in which emergency responders had very limited access to the fire scene. Cebu City fire marshal Chief Insp. Noel Ababon admitted earlier that one of their difficulties in putting out the fire in Lorega was the very narrow access.

Bañacia said the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) will conduct a survey in the area to determine the property owners.

“Sutaon sa DWUP kung kinsay tag-iya sa yuta, mobalik nata sa atong Build, Back, Better, we will see to it nga dili na masunog pag-usab. Ang atong strategy, the usual reblocking and maghimo nata og easements sa sapa,” Bañacia said.

DWUP chief Genevieve Alcoseba confirmed in an earlier interview that the area hit by the fire is owned by several private individuals. Alcoseba said they are still meeting the lot owners for consultation.

She said that the DWUP could not decide whether or not the lot owners will allow the fire victims to rebuild their houses.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella is supporting the recommendation to reblock the area.

“Kini gyung atong pag-reblock unta sa atong mga gipuy-an dinha, wa paman sad nato matan-aw kung unsay classification anang yuta naa diha, whether it’s a public land or a private land, whatever it is, kinahanglan gyud tag-space reblocking,” Labella said.

At least 41 houses were razed by fire in the area Monday morning. Based on the validation conducted by DWUP, there were 82 families affected with a total of 400 individuals.

The fire victims are temporarily sheltered at the barangay hall. They were provided with food packs, disaster kits, and soon construction materials to help them rebuild.

“The  city is still giving the usual food packs, disaster kits and construction materials,” Bañacia said. — Joyce Ann Gabutan (FREEMAN)