427 Mandaue fire victims receive aid

The 427 families who were affected by the fire that hit sitio Sampaguita, barangay Banilad, Mandaue City yesterday received additional financial assistance from the national government.

Mayor Thadeo Ouano, assisted by his son, Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie "Ouano, who is the special assistant to the mayor, handed over the assistance in a simple ceremony at city hall yesterday morning.

Mayor Ouano distributed the P1 million which was released by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The money was taken from the President's Social Fund.

After the fire last March 2, Ouano made the request for assistance to President Arroyo when she came to Cebu a week after the fire.

The city Disaster Coordinating Council and also the city council passed a resolution asking for a similar request from the President. It also passed passed a resolution declaring sitio Sampaguita as a calamity area.

The city also appropriated P1.4 million for relief assistance to the fire victims.

Each affected house owner received P5,000, while families which were just renting houses got P2,000.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia also released P1.7 million of its calamity funds for the victims.