Fire victims oppose reblocking

CEBU, Philippines - More than P51 million worth of properties went up in smoke at the Barangay Luz, an incident where firefighting operations were hampered by narrow roads that prevented fire trucks from coming in.

Despite that, however, Luz Barangay Captain Rian Tante said Mayor Michael Rama’s decision to hold any rebuilding activity to give way to a planned re-blocking is met with a strong opposition especially from those affected by the fire.

Estimates by the Cebu City’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) said that of the P51,621,000 worth of damage, most of these were at sitio Sto. Niño, at P16,855,000 with 108 families and 476 individuals affected. Other sitios affected were Lubi, Central, Abellana, and Sta. Cruz.

The DSWS said the fire ate up several stores and houses that were mostly made of concrete materials. Houses and stores protruding on the roadsides were blamed for narrowing the two-way access roads leading to fire stricken areas so this is why Mayor Rama ordered for the re-blocking of the whole area so it will have wider roads.

“Di sila mutugot ana. Willing sila mu-sacrifice sa dalan, but gamay ra, dili total re-blocking,” he said. (They are willing to give way for a road, but they are against total rebloking.)

Tante said the affected families can start rebuilding their homes by next week because of the housing materials from Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña.

Osmeña also assured to provide cash assistance of P10,000 for each homeowner and P1,000 for those who are renting.

Tante further said that the situation in Barangay Luz is different because the affected families own the land where the fire took place, unlike other area threatened by demolition like in Barangay Apas.

“Ang sayon mao unta’y buhaton,” Tante said, apparently referring to the rebuilding of homes instead of Rama’s reblocking plan.

Tante and the fire victims had a meeting last night to discuss things. The barangay chief said they are facing more problems because the assistance extended to them, like food and water and other basic materials, will only last until tomorrow, Tuesday.

“Two days from now (Sunday), basin ug wala na. Gipangandaman pa ni namo,” he said, saying he may be asking the city government’s assistance on this.

For now, Tante said they have enough food, water, and used clothing for the fire victims. But Antonio and Miguela Granada were still wearing yesterday the same clothes they wore when the fire broke out.

“Tapot lawas lang g’yud,” said Miguela, 67. (I have nothing else but these clothes I’m wearing.) They received used clothing but unfortunately these do not fit them.      

They were not able to save a single property as they were in Liloan attending to their grandchild when the fire broke out.

Miguela said she sent her son to save anything that he could but it was too late, their house was already engulfed in flames. With their house gone, Miguela said they are still fortunate that they have their children to stay with. They stayed in Barangay Luz yesterday waiting for the promised cash assistance.

“Ang uban diha, unsaon na man sila? Labi na ug tingsugod na sa klase, asa na man sila ipahimutang?” she said, as she hoped that the government shall provide her fellow fire victims with relocation sites. (Where would the other victims go? School days are fast approaching.) – (FREEMAN)