CH: No fire victims will be evicted

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City government vows to protect Sambag I fire victims from threats of the lot owners that they will no longer be allowed to rebuild their houses.

Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor chief Danilo Gabiana made the assurance after a certain Ybañez, one of the lot owners, allegedly told the victims to vacate the area.

"Just like what happened in T. Padilla, the city will intervene for the victims because we are later declaring the area under a state of calamity which means we will have a control over the area," Gabiana said.

He said it is the city's position that fire victims could not be ejected from the lot they are occupying prior to the incident unless there is a valid order from the court. The owner has to follow due process by filing an ejectment case in court against the occupants.

"Kay kung ing-ana ra diay kasayon palayason ang mga tawo, manunog na nya nang mga owners," Gabiana said.

The city is still studying the possibility of a road widening in the area considering that fire trucks also had a hard time passing the narrow roads during the fire.

The Department of Social Welfare and Services continues to distribute relief materials such as rice and canned goods to the victims, which will last for one week.

Relief materials are purchased under a credit status as the city could not release the P1.2 million budget requested to defray the expenses without a resolution from the city council.

The city's Crisis Management Office has recommended to the council to declare Sitios Atis and Upper Kawayan in the barangay under state of calamity for the city to be able to use its calamity funds. The city council is set to pass the resolution in tomorrow's regular session.

Even if the city council makes the declaration of calamity in the area, city officials are still confronted with a legal problem because of the election ban.

The Commission on Elections already issued a warning that Local Government Units could not use their calamity funds even if it is intended as aid to the victims of fire unless they have secured an exemption..

Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code provides that, the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds by any public official or employee including barangay officials 45 days before a regular election and 30 days before a special election is prohibited.

Aid must be coursed through the Philippine National Red Cross except for private donors who can give their donations directly to the victims.

Mayor Michael Rama, however, asked the Comelec not to put bureaucracy above when it comes to emergency situations such as fire and other disasters.

He has already given instruction to the crisis management office of the city to immediately apply for exemption and even invited the Comelec to join them in the preparation and release of aid to dispel suspicions that they are doing it for political pur-poses.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Fire Department has invited two witness to appear before their investigation today to testify on the origin of the Sambag I fire.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Nilo Daculan said these two witnesses are neighbors of Teresita "Idad" Sanchez, 68, owner of the house where the fire allegedly started.

Daculan said they also invited Sanchez herself to shed light on the incident. - Jessica Ann Pareja and Niña G. Sumacot/FPL (FREEMAN)