Fire victims made anxious about diseases

CEBU, Philippines – The victims of the fire that razed 30 houses in Barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City are apprehensive of possible diseases that they may get, considering the heavy rains each day and the fact that they still do not have appropriate shelter.

"Nabalaka lang mi diri kay sige ug uwan 'nya maigo mi usahay sa salibo. Dali ra baya mataptan ug sakit ang mga bata," a woman, who refused to giver her name, said in an interview. (We are very worried about our situation here because of the rains. You know how children easily get ill.)

Some 250 individuals belonging to 60 families are currently housed at the barangay's sports gym.

Aside from losing their houses and their belongings to the blaze, these families are also facing the uncertainty of re-building their houses on the same area because they were just renting the lot.

They have received assistance from the City Government through the Department of Social Welfare and Services, as well as from Rep. Rachel Marguerite "Cutie" Del Mar and some non-government organizations (NGOs), said Camputhaw Barangay Secretary Jay Clark Tampus.

The fire damaged at least P2 million worth of properties.

Tampus said that food assistance such as rice, canned goods, and noodles were extended by Del Mar and various NGOs last Monday. The City Government also gave food and kitchen utensils, blankets, and mats.

Mayor Michael Rama will be meeting with Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa, chairman on social service, to study other basic services needed by the people affected by the blaze.

Meanwhile, reports surfaced that the victims were only renting the area where the fire occurred, that's why they will be asking the owner of the lot to allow them to reconstruct their houses.

The residents said they will seek assistance from the barangay in negotiating with the lot owner. Barangay Captain Lorenzo Basamot and other barangay officials were still in Manila yesterday attending a seminar.

The fire department is still looking into a possible electrical short circuit that could have caused the fire, which started from the house of one Elsa Norca in Sitio Ker.

No one was reported hurt in the blaze except for a five-year-old boy who suffered bruises after he and his mother fell in the nearby creek in their haste to escape from the fire scene. (THE FREEMAN)