Aid sought for Tejero fire victims

CEBU, Philippines — Residents of sitio Silangan in Tejero, Cebu City are in need of assistance after their homes were razed by fire on Saturday, May 16, according to barangay officials.

The fire last week affected at least 945 individuals and 219 families.

After almost a week of sheltering at Tejero Elementary School, they will be relocated to the Tejero Sports Complex tomorrow, May 24. The school, which served as their initial evacuation site, will hold its Brigada Eskwela on Monday, May 25.

Barangay Captain Harold Seno said victims will now have to provide food for themselves as the city government has already finished its three-day food assistance distribution, which was extended for two days.

“Ang pagkaon nila kutob ra atong Thursday kay three days raman gud ang ihatag anang city government, so inig abot nila ari [Terejo Sports Complex], ilaha na,” Seno said.

Seno said the barangay has limited capacity to fund the needs of the victims due to the consecutive fires they experienced since September in 2025.

“Gamay ra gyud ang budget sa calamity funds sa atong barangay,” said Councilor Almar Carl Amen.

Victims have received donations like rice and canned goods for their daily meals. Lions Manila will also provide, said Seno.

The city government will also provide P20,000 in cash assistance to families who were severely affected, while P10,000 will be given for partially damaged houses, and P5,000 for renter/shares.

“Ang kuwang gyud sa mga taw labi na adto puhon, mga gamit sa ilang balay,” Seno said.

Meanwhile, Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman Kim John Olanga said that as of the moment the complex has only two working restrooms, one each for male and female.

Seno has been reaching out for help to the Department of Public Services (DPS) for portable toilets and is expecting the assistance by tomorrow morning.

Tents from Tejero Elementary School will be transferred to the complex, with each accommodating two families, according to a victim.

The victims reportedly said that they would not fit in the tents. They also said they lack access to water, which is essential for washing and bathing at the evacuation center.

Officials said they are clearing the complex and providing basic necessities, as electricity and water have yet to be restored in the affected community.

Amen also said that the victims are in need of underwear.

“Some of them need underwear because that’s also one very basic need of our constituents,” Amen said.

"Last Tuesday, when we give mga ayuda didto sa school, naa juy ni hunghung, 'Kons, naa kay underwear dira?'," he said.

Amen said that anyone who wants to help may reach out through the barangay secretary or the Gender and Development staff.

The recent blaze is the third fire incident in Barangay Tejero this year. Prior to this, a fire hit sitio Riverside on January 10 and another in sitio Sagrada on February 5.

Moreover, Amen expressed that there’s a possibility that victims from sitio Silangan may not fit the complex due to their number.

“That 219 dili gyud masigo kay sa Riverside pa lang daan, wala gyud tu ka abot og 100 families nag huot na sila,” Amen said.

Victims from sitio Riverside just left the complex on May 17. They stayed there for four months.

Mayor Nestor Archival, who visited the area on May 16, is also searching for another new evacuation shelter.

“Natimingan nga igo mohawa ang sitio Riverside mosunod pud ang Silangan Dos,” Amen said.