Escudero vows support for Tejero fire victims

CEBU, Philippines - Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero has pledged support to victims of a huge fire that hit Barangay Tejero, Cebu City last Saturday.

After learning of the fire that affected over 200 families, Escudero said he immediately texted Vice President Jejomar Binay, the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, for possible assistance.

Escudero said he also informed the Department of Social Welfare and Development to distribute relief materials.

“I am hoping that the vice president will distribute housing materials so the residents can rebuild their houses. I expect to receive a response from his staff this afternoon,” Escudero said yesterday.

Escudero was in Cebu last Tuesday and yesterday for his regular visit to different provinces.

The fire victims will receive housing materials worth P5,000 from the city government.

The Department of Social Welfare and Services and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council are now working on the release of housing materials for distribution.

The victims, however, will not be allowed to rebuild their houses until the Department of Engineering and Public Works and the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor will be able to re-block the entire area stricken by fire.

Mayor Michael Rama ordered the re-blocking and restoration of the roads after the firefighters had a hard time getting their trucks to the fire scene due to narrow roads.

The mayor said he wants to replicate in Tejero what the city has done in F. Villa in barangay T. Padilla which now has spacious roads after the entire area was also destroyed by fire last year.

Meanwhile, Councilor Margot Osmeña belied the accusation of Basak San Nicolas Captain George Rama that her husband, south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña, has not been to the fire victims in Barangay Mambaling.

George said the congressman was visible in Tejero which is in the north district, but did not take time to look after the condition of his own constituents in the south.

Margot said her husband was in Mambaling Tuesday afternoon, adding that he will also give P10,000 financial assistance to the owners of five houses that were destroyed by fire. — (FREEMAN)