154 families homeless in Pardo fire
Pardo execs to declare Sitio Kawayan under calamity area; Lim asks public to help survivors
THE fire that hit a neighborhood in Barangay Poblacion Pardo, Cebu City has displaced 154 families, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS).
Poblacion Pardo Barangay Captain Althea Lim said that the fire survivors from Sitio Kawayan are sheltered inside the village’s sports complex, radio DyAB reported.
In their updated record, Lim said the fire destroyed at least 91 houses and damaged seven others. The structures were mostly made of light materials like wood.
The lot is reportedly owned by the Aznar family, said Lim.
Cebu City Fire Marshal Rogelio Bongabong Jr., however, said only 50 houses were destroyed and 10 other structures were damaged.
He said at least P300,000 worth of properties were razed in the fire that occurred past 4 p.m. last Wednesday.
The fire reportedly started in the ceiling of a two-storey house owned by Jesus Racoma, according to the fire department’s initial investigation.
Racoma’s daughter, Elisa Molina, said no one was inside their house when the fire happened.
Sun.Star Cebu tried yesterday to reach Bongabong through phone for an update report on the fire, but the calls went unanswered. He replied, though, via a text message, saying there was no new update on the incident.
In an interview aired over radio DyHP, investigator Pear Angelo Abellana said they are looking into the possibility that the fire was caused by an illegal wire connection.
Lim said they will declare Sitio Kawayan under state of calamity in a barangay session tomorrow. The declaration will allow the barangay officials to use its calamity fund in providing assistance to the survivors.
Lim said spoke with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who suggested that a road re-blocking should be done in the area.
During the fire, only one firetruck managed to penetrate to the fire scene, which is located in the interior portion of the sitio.
Bongabong, in an earlier interview, said they connected at least 14 hoses to reach the crowded Sitio Kawayan. The flames were contained in one area at past 5 p.m.
Lim asked the public to donate ready-to-eat food like canned goods to the survivors because they lost their kitchen utensils to the flames.
The Cebu City Government is set to give P10,000 financial assistance and housing materials to the survivors.