Ermita fire victims get P5T financial assistance from CH

CEBU, Philippines - Instead of the P10, 000 cash assistance for homeowners whose houses were razed by fire at sitio Warwick Barracks in Brgy. Ermita, the Cebu City government only gave them half of the amount.

Department of Social Services chief, Dr. Ester Concha, said that Mayor Michael Rama decided to reduce the amount after all of the fire victims claimed to be house owners.

“Kay pagpangutana ni Mayor kinsa to’ng mga owners nangisa man tanan mao nga gi tag-five thousand pesos nalang tanan,” Concha said.

The city government usually give P10,000 to house owners while P5,000 for house sharers and renters.

A homeowner who requested anonymity said she has been in the area for 44 years and was hoping to receive P10,000.

“Wala na lay motingog kay ang mayor na man ang ni sulti. Papahawaon pa lang mi diri,” she said.

She complained why they cannot go back to the place. Concha explained that the area is not residential but a public market.

“Wala man untay assistance kay dili mana kabalayan. But for humanitarian na lang na kay nasunogan man,” Concha added.

The city government has only distributed assistance to 218 homeowners out of the 577 identified fire victims. Lawyer Collin Russel, head of the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor, said he does not have the details yet as to when would be the next distribution of cash assistance for the remaining beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the families who were staying in Ermita Basketball Court already left the area.

“Ako nang gipagawas kay gamiton naman nako. Wala nako kabaw asa sila, nangabang tingaling uban, ang uban naa sa asiras natog,” said Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta. (FREEMAN)