34 houses lost in Toledo blaze

CEBU, Philippines - Three people were injured and 34 houses went up in smoke late morning yesterday in Sitio Bagong Buhay, Barangay Don Andres Soriano, Toledo City.

A total of 38 families and 164 individuals lost their homes, said Barangay Captain Marlon Sayson. 

Among those injured was barangay tanod Boy Adlawan, who was hit by a nozzle of a fire hose. He was given first aid and was not anymore brought to the hospital.

Sayson said that the two others who were injured sustained puncture wounds after they accidentally stepped on nails.

They were taken to the Toledo City District Hospital for treatment.

Senior Insp. Randy Mendaros, Toledo City Fire Marshal, said they received the alarm about 10:40 a.m.

The fire reportedly started at the house owned by Rey Alguno, who at time of the incident was not around.

The other victims identified were Franklyn Almiran, Anita Ty, Liza Putong, Precy Cabarles, Pamping Desucatan, Jujie Alguno, Lando Alima, Bayling Alima, Bobby Cabrera, Reynaldo Alima, Gil Zamora, and Pepang Alima.

Others were Napoleon Cabrera, Nathaniel Cabrera, Tata Ocampo, Zalde Bubuli, Borning Torsende, Gregorio Jomboda, Luisito Opiasa, Joe Sarcelia, Celin Ayon, Micmic Galgo, Rudy Anso, Noling Respecia, Jimmy Artuyo, Iga Lamoste, Celedonio Lamoste, Mila Marte, and Bebot Sotore.

Sayson said they are still completing the list of victims.

According to Alguno, they were at their house in Cebu City when they were informed of the incident through a text message, which prompted him to head to Toledo City.

Alguno said that flames already engulfed the area when he got there.

Fire fighters were able to control the fire in about 40 minutes after they arrived, but before it was totally extinguished about midday.

The fire department is still investigating the cause of the blaze.

Damage wrought by the fire was pegged at P500,000.

The fire almost damaged the back portion of the Mt. Carmel Parish Church which is only about two meters from the fire scene.

Belen Alonzo said that she was just washing their clothes when she noticed a smoke coming from the Alguno’s residence.

“Gatuo ko nga basura ra ang gaaso sa ubos sa balay nilang Alguno unya ning buto man ang wire mao tong nisiyagit ko ug sunog,” (I thought their were just burning garbage at alguno’s house, but there was an explosion so I shouted fire) she said.

Fire victims preferred to stay in their relatives nearby while others are temporarily housed at the Don Andres Soriano National High School.

Sayson said the barangay will be providing food as well used clothing for the victims.

Delay?

The fire victims complained that firefighters did not arrive fast enough and did not have enough water in their fire trucks.

These allegations were denied by Mendaros, who said that they always fill up their fire trucks with water.

Mendaros told The FREEMAN that what caused the delay were the narrow roads heading to the interior portion of the area where the fire reportedly started.

Fire fighters from Balamban, San Fernando, Naga City, Minglanilla, Pinamungajan, and Carmen Copper Corporation also helped put out the blaze.

Claims of witnesses

According to the residents, they saw someone throwing something to the house where the fire started, but they could not identify the person.

After that incident, they said that they saw smoke then the fire started.

Alguno however did not confirm the reports but said there could be someone who was jealous of them but he never mentioned any name.

“Lisod man pud ug mo-allege ta unya wa’y nakakita wa pud ta’y ebidensiya, ang Ginoo na la’y mag-igo,” (It is hard to allege anything and nobody saw it nor do we have evidence, I’ll leave it to the Lord) he told The FREEMAN. 

Modern fire equipment

The Bureau of Fire Protection expects to get modern equipment for firefighting and improvements of fire stations in the next five to ten years yet.

BFP-7 Assistant Regional Director for Operations, Supt. Esmael Codilla said that they need billions of pesos to modernize the agency as provided in the Philippine Fire Code of 2008.

“In the next five to ten years we can see improvements and expect complete face lifting of fire stations in the country,” said Codilla at the Tapok-Tapok sa Sugbo Weekly News Forum at NS Pension.

The law provides that of the total revenue collected by the BFP, 20 percent shall be set aside and retained for use of the local government concerned and shall be utilized in accordance with the guidelines such as the improvement of fire stations and facilities.

The 80 percent of the revenue collected by the BFP shall be used for its modernization such as the procurement of fire protection and fire investigation supplies and equipment, rescue, paramedics, supplies and materials, and related technical services necessary for the fire service and the improvement of facilities of the Bureau and abatement of fire hazards.

Since the law was implemented only in 2010, Codilla said the funds at the BFP might not be enough yet to buy the new equipment.

Codilla said that in Cebu City, where he once served as fire marshal, the local government unit was able to earn at least P12 million a year same as in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

The BFP is now using Japan-made equipment procured in 1980s.

Codilla said that same brand will be procured as long as the BFP can already afford to buy at the current price.

The 1,000 gallon tanker is estimated to cost P12 million to P15 million each unit.

The supertanker is estimated to cost P18 million to P20 million each while the aerial ladder is estimated to cost P50 million to P60 million each.

At present, Codilla said that what they are doing is just a “band-aid” solution wherein fire trucks are undergoing repair every after use to prepare for the next fire incident.— with Gregg M. Rubio and Belle Valerie Manatad, USJ-R /NLQ (FREEMAN)