Fire-hit sitio in Cebu under state of calamity

CEBU - The local government of Barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City yesterday placed a fire-ravaged sitio under a state of calamity.

Alang-Alang Barangay Captain Mylene Sanchez said she is waiting for a final report from the City Social Welfare Services (CSWS) on the number of families and individuals

affected by the fire that struck Sitio White Flower last Sunday afternoon.

According to an initial report from CSWS, 56 families were displaced by the fire. The barangay council held a special session yesterday to pass a resolution declaring Sitio White Flower under a state of calamity. The resolution is required for the release of the barangay’s calamity funds. Sanchez, in a text message to Sun.Star Cebu, said they hope to give cash assistance to the fire victims, who are staying temporarily in a tent put up near the fire scene and in a daycare center.

The City Government, through the CSWS, has distributed relief goods to the fire victims. It will provide them with meals with for three days.

Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing (Cebu, sixth district) sent canned goods, used clothing and other relief goods to the victims last Sunday night.

“We always strive to ready to extend help to our constituents in cases of emergencies,” he said in a statement. “We try our best to quickly respond to the crisis and ensure that they get the necessary assistance to get back on their feet at the soonest possible time.”

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection in Mandaue City, the fire razed 10 houses and damaged two others in less than an hour.

Fire investigators have yet to find out what caused the fire, which erupted a few minutes past 1 p.m. The cost of damaged was pegged at around P200,000.

It was the third major fire to hit the city this year. Last April, a sitio in Barangay Tingub and another one in Barangay Bakilid, which were struck by a fire, were also placed under a state of calamity.

The fire in Tingub occurred last April 2 in Sitio Tondo, destroying 42 houses. In Sitio Marfa, Bakilid, more than 100 families were displaced by the fire that struck last April 28. RSB