Lot owner fencing lot in sitio Aroma

CEBU, Philippines - The owner of a lot in sitio Aroma, barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City where numerous houses were lost in a fire last Monday afternoon has begun fencing it.

Barangay Subangdaku captain Walter Dy told Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes yesterday that he allowed the Tanchan family, the lot owner, to go ahead with the fencing although it had not secured a permit for it from the barangay for the reason that in 2003 the owner and the illegal occupiers of the lot agreed to a settlement.

The Tanchan family had offered each of the 648 occupiers at that time P10,000 to P15,000 in financial assistance provided they vacated the area.

But the promised assistance never materialized so that the residents continued to remain in the lot until another fire struck the area again last Monday.

Dy said last Monday’s fire was the third to hit the place, the first one being in 1994, the second in 2003, and the third one last Monday. The very same place was declared a calamity area thrice.

Dy said although the fencing has been started, the fire victims will remain in the area until after the financial assistance promised them has been given to them and a relocation site for them found.

City Social Welfare Services chief Violeta Cavada said her office has listed 436 houses that were lost in the fire and 709 families affected.

Five tents and tarpaulins have been provided by the city for the victims’ temporary shelter.

As of yesterday, the victims have received 96 cartons of noodles and canned goods from the Aboitiz group of companies.

Mayor Cortes said that since he is committed to provide land to the landless and homes to the homeless he will be meeting with the Tanchan family this Monday to discuss to what extent of assistance the family can give to the victims.

Cortes also said the city should provide a relocation site to the victims considering that the place they are occupying is considered a danger zone. — Flor Z. Perolina   (FREEMAN NEWS)