CEBU - Cebu City government is in need of more collapsible tents for victims of calamities/disasters such as fires and typhoons, and other city-related activities like the Sinulog.
Andres Esparaguera of the City Hall’s Building Maintenance Services has reported to the City Council that there are only 46 usable tents under his custody because the 34 others can no longer be used.
Esparaguera explained that of the 46 collapsible tents that are still usable, 25 of these are permanently installed in different places in the city, including the seven put up at the South Road Properties.
There are other two tents currently used by the fire victims in barangay Day-as and for the temporary outpost in barangay Mambaling.
Esparaguera’s report to the Council was in compliance with the request to submit an inventory on city-owned collapsible tents.
In a proposed measure, councilor Gerardo Carillo sought for the purchase of 60 collapsible tents, but the Council would want to know first the status of the tents that were purchased by the city the past years.
Also, Vice Mayor Michael Rama wants borrowers of these tents to promise in writing that they would take good care of the tents and return these promptly.
As for councilor Augustus Pe, Jr., he would want to require borrowers to have these tents cleaned first before they are returned to the office of Esparaguera.
It was learned that some of those who utilized the tents, particularly fire victims, returned the tents a year after use.
There were reports that six tents used in a wake in barangay Ermita were returned only after the City Hall evicted settlers who illegally occupied the place where the Carbon Market Unit 2 was once located.
These tents can be borrowed by city residents for funerals, weddings, fiestas, and other activities in the barangays, particularly if these are for the temporary shelter of evacuees during disasters/calamities. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)