Three Mambaling sitios under state of calamity

To fast track the release of funds, the city council held a special session yesterday morning to address the concern of three sitios in barangay Mambaling that were razed by fire last Tuesday.

The council declared the area under the state of calamity necessary for the release of calamity funds that would augment the city's local funds in the relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Records show that 452 residences, 622 families and 3,292 individuals were affected by the fire.

The Local Government Code provides five percent of estimated revenue from regular sources to be set aside as annual lump sum appropriation for relief and other works and services in connection with calamities which may occur during the budget year.

A Declaration of a state of calamity is necessary for the release of calamity funds to augment local funds in the relief and rehabilitation efforts of the LGU.

The city government and some private groups started relief efforts days ago, immediately the day after the fire hit sitios Lawis and Alaska in barangay Mambaling. The city government provided food, potable water and portalets or portable toilets to affected families who are temporarily housed at an elementary school and the barangay's sports complex.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo, chairman of the city's committee on social services, earlier said no direct financial assistance will be given to the affected families, however, the city government will provide material and construction assistance.

Material assistance will consist of household necessities such as sleeping garments and kitchen utensils. Carillo said construction materials would also be provided to the affected families to enable them to start rebuilding their homes.

Relief efforts were smooth but Mambaling barangay captain Rodolfo Estella said three classrooms of Alaska Elementary School were reportedly scoured. Estella said he has advised the teachers to conduct an inventory of the school's equipment to determine the missing items and that a formal investigation can be undertaken.

Estella said the narrow roads and the presence of people who did not have any business in the incident were among the factors that made it difficult for immediate rescue when the fire broke. - Joeberth M. Ocao