Kamputhaw sitio placed under state of calamity

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City Council has placed sitio Care, Barangay Kamputhaw under a state of calamity following the July 26 fire that left 67 families homeless.

In a special session yesterday morning, the council passed a resolution sponsored by Councilor Sisinio Andales declaring the area a state of calamity.

In his resolution, Andales said the declaration of the state of calamity is necessary in order to utilize the calamity fund as financial assistance to the fire victims.

He said the declaration would also authorize the barangay to utilize its own calamity fund to assist the affected families.

The fire, which was reportedly caused by electrical short circuit, razed at least 35 houses and rendered 67 families or 267 individuals homeless.

"The affected residents of barangay Kamputhaw are in dire need of all the assistance they can muster and the city government is morally and by duty mandated to extend its support and assistance to all the fateful victims of calamity," Andales said.

City Fire investigator Ali-Kasem Espiñola said it took firefighters about 40 minutes to put out the fire, which started in the house of a habal-habal driver.

Fire investigators estimated the damage to property at P2 million. (THE FREEMAN)