After losing homes, victims fear they would lose lots, too

CEBU, Philippines -  The 106 families who lost their homes to fire last Monday evening in Sitio Marfa in Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City may no longer be able go back to the lots they have been occupying.

Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede, who is now the acting mayor since Mayor Jonas Cortes is currently on leave, visited fire victims yesterday and had the chance to talk with lot owners Manuel and Gonzala Jayme.

Bercede, who then tried to negotiate for the return of fire victims, was told by Jayme that he will no longer  allow  fire victims to go back to their lot as it will be subdivided soon by his five other siblings and two children.

Jayme also told Bercede of their plan to construct roads once the lot will be subdivided.

With this, Bercede said he will raise the problem with the Housing Urban  and Development Office on how to help the displaced families.

Bercede said the city might have two options in helping the fire victims. One is by giving them relocation site or giving them financial assistance from the city government, which is calculated as minimum wage multiplied by sixty days based on the Urban Development Housing Act of 1992.

The fire razed 47 houses in the area around 9 p.m. last Monday evening.

Although the City Fire Department has yet to conduct a thorough investigation on the cause of fire, initial reports had it that the fire was triggered by a spark of an unattended cellphone being charged.  (FREEMAN)