Cebu City fire victims receive aid
At least 221 families who have been displaced by fire that hit two neighboring barangays in Cebu City received relief goods from the national government.
Of the victims, 149 families are from Sitio Kauswagan in Barangay Basak Pardo, while 72 families are from Sitio Sto. Niño in Barangay Kinasangan Pardo.
The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), in a statement, said the aid was given by private charitable institutions to the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP).
The donation in kind was coursed through OPAV, which distributed the relief goods to the fire victims.
"We usually entrust the assistance for calamity victims to the local government units. But for me, the national government should be in the forefront in helping our poor victims of fire or other calamities because our president, Tatay Digong, wants them taken care of as fast as possible," said OPAV Secretary Michael Dino.
Dino said his office will also determine other possible aids that the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development may be extended to the fire victims.
According to Cebu City’s Department of Social Welfare and Services, at least 135 families or 591 individuals lost homes to a fire last Friday night.
At least 100 houses were razed in Sitio Kauswagan in Barangay Basak Pardo and Sitio Sto. Niño in Barangay Kinasang-an Pardo. Damaged was pegged at P1 million.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña assured to give each family P20,000 cash and housing materials to help them start rebuilding their homes.
Each family will also receive disaster kits worth P2,000.—Mitchelle
Palaubsanon/KBQ
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