After fire in Tejero 85 families may now rebuild homes

CEBU, Philippines - Eighty five families that were affected by the massive fire in Barangay Tejero can now rebuild their homes in a 20-square meter lot provided by the city government.

The 85 families were identified as legitimate house owners following a meeting with barangay officials and City Hall personnel at the Tejero Sports Complex the other night. During the meeting, each family was identified as house owner upon confirmation of their immediate neighbors.

DSWS Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor chief Collen Rosell emphasized that only one family can be formally declared occupant of the 20-square meter lot, thus, if several families shared a house prior to the fire and still choose to live together, they would have to share the 20 square meters.

Rosell said it is important to properly identify the legitimate house owners following reports that many of those affected by the fire are professional squatters.

Early on, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWS) listed 108 house owners out of the 211 families left homeless by the fire last July 9. More families are expected to be identified as legitimate house owners in another meeting within the week.

After the fire, Mayor Michael Rama ordered re-blocking just like what he did in T. Villa and F. Villa in Barangay T. Padilla. The mayor said the re-blocking is necessary to allow responding vehicles like fire trucks to easily pass through roads in the area during an emergency.

Residents affected by the fire who earlier occupied a bigger area are not objecting to the equitable distribution of the property.

Rosell said they are fast-tracking the placement of monuments locally known as “mohon,” which sets the boundary of each family’s property. The legitimate house owners are expected to rebuild their houses before the month ends. — (FREEMAN)