Cebu City Hall eyes development at fire stricken Lorega-San Miguel

CEBU, Philippines - A major development is being eyed at the three-hectare lot in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel hit by a fire last week.

Cebu City Administrator Lucelle Mercado revealed the city is on the process of drafting a master plan, which will include, among others, a market, park, medium-rise building, among others. The city will reportedly tap the private sector for the planned project.

“We are encouraging private companies nga motabang through public-private partnership,” she said.

Mercado said a big part of the area is owned by the city government and eight percent of the total land area is private-owned.

This development plan is different from the re-blocking plan for the area, which will involve widening of two access roads.

Last Tuesday, a huge blaze destroyed over 700 houses in eight sitios and displaced at least 5,000 residents. The affected residents are sheltered temporarily at the gymnasiums in Barangays T. Padilla, Day-as and Zapatera, as well as at the gym of the old Sacred Heart School along General Maxilom Avenue.

Sacred Heart housed the biggest group but Mercado said at least 400 individuals will be moved to Zapatera Elementary school today to decongest the old school. With enough space, the affected residents would be able to prepare their own food, Mercado said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) earlier distributed disaster kits that also contained kitchen utensils.

Yesterday, some of the 1,312 affected families received their P10,000 cash assistance from City Hall. The distribution of financial aid and the verification of the affected residents are still on-going.

The city administrator said the housing materials like cement, nails and galvanized iron sheets will be distributed soon.

 The city has set aside P3 million for cash assistance for the victims. The amount will be charged against the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Fund. – (FREEMAN)