CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has requested the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) to provide free water supply to residents who were recently affected by fire.
The council also requested MCWD to install water faucets in the evacuation centers for a better and sufficient water supply for the displaced victims.
Councilor Nestor Archival, who sponsored the resolution, said several fire incidents have been occurring in the city.
Archival said due to these unfortunate occurrences, the victims are forcibly displaced from their homes and are evacuated to evacuation centers for temporary shelter usually to sports center, schools, or gymnasiums.
“Water is a basic necessity especially for these displaced victims and the water supply in the evacuation centers would not be sufficient to support the needs of these victims,” said Archival.
He said that MCWD, a company primarily engaged in supplying water to the residents of the city, has, along with its privilege to exercise corporate powers, also a social and corporate responsibility to the community.
The recent fire incident that happened in the city occurred in Barangay San Nicolas on Monday night.
On Sunday that was Mother’s Day, two separate fire incidents also occurred in the same barangay.
Barangay San Nicolas was placed under a state of calamity since Monday.
Barangay Captain Norman Navarro said fire volunteers in their barangay will be instructed to conduct a house-to-house campaign with regard to fire prevention.
“Pahimangnoan ang mga katawhan nga magmatngon lang gyud intawon kay tungod seguro sa kainit sa panahon, mao ni nga dali ra kaayo mo-trigger ang kayo,” said Navarro.
“Manghinaut ko nga katong nahitabo gabie (Monday) mao na’y katapusan sa among barangay nga sunog kay lisud kaayo,” he said.
At least 117 houses and 141 families were affected by the incident on Sunday.
Navarro said the barangay is set to provide a financial aid amounting to P2,000 each of the family and 25 kilos of rice to the victims.
The city government also extended assistance, providing food assistance and hygiene kits, among others, to the affected residents.
To avoid another fire incident from happening again, Navarro appealed to the barangay residents to always take precaution.
“Sa atong mga residente diri sa Basak San Nicolas, magmatngon lang ta. Mag-iyahay lang ta og amping sa atong kaugalingon,” said Navarro.
“Bantayan ra nato ang tagsa-tagsa nato ka mga balay nga di na intawon ta mabiktima aning sunog. Di na ni mobalik kay dili sayon nya wala na ta’y enough nga evacuation center para sa sunod nga biktima. Wala na gyud ta’y kabutangan,” he added. —GMR (FREEMAN)