Fire hits Prov'l Assessor's Office

CEBU, Philippines - A fire hit the Cebu Provincial Assessor’s Office at the Capitol yesterday afternoon.

The fire, which broke out at 2 p.m., alarmed security guards of the Cebu Tactical Security and Detective Agency Inc. who were inside the Capitol building.

A guard noticed smoke coming from the assessor’s office and when he verified it, he saw flames from the room’s air-conditioning unit.

As guards broke the glass door, security guard Servillano Angcong was wounded in his arm after being hit by a piece of shattered glass.

Once inside, the guards put out the fire using five extinguishers.

Around five fire trucks responded to the alarm but when they arrived, the fire was already put out. Damage was pegged at P1,000.

The fire was the 15th recorded in Cebu this month.

Meanwhile, the families affected by fire in Barangay Sambag 2 last Tuesday received disaster boxes while waiting for housing materials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Sambag 2 barangay captain Carl Belarmino said until housing materials are handed over to the fire victims, they will have to stay at the barangay sports complex. Based on the list, there were 44 families or 192 individuals affected by the fire, he said.

He said some affected families, though, are now starting to rebuilds their houses while others are looking for houses to rent.

At least 23 houses were damaged, 14 of which were destroyed.

Today, Belarmino said, he will ask permission from the Commission on Audit to convert the calamity fund into cash assistance since the victims appealed for cash.

If the COA declines, the barangay captain said they will wait for the assistance from DSWD, hoping for it to be released next week.

He said he will also ask cash assistance from north district Rep. Cutie Del Mar.

Yesterday, barangay officials distributed disaster boxes containing cooking pot, plates, bowls, spoons and forks, glasses, water jugs, ladle, blanket, mosquito net, mat, and tent, good for six persons.

The city government also delivered over 100 folding beds for the fire victims. Food provisions are given to the families until tonight.

Belarmino said he instructed one of his council members, Aileen Tecson, head of the committee on land acquisition and urban poor development, to coordinate today with the National Housing Authority for them to conduct survey in the area hopefully this week.

“Para mamarkahan na nila kung asa mag-start ang easement para sa road widening. Para inig reconstruct sa mga families, ila tong ma-follow,” he said. — (FREEMAN)