Valenzuela gives P1.5 million aid to fire victims

MANILA, Philippines - The Valenzuela City government gave P1.5 million to more than 300 families whose houses were destroyed in recent fires for them to address their basic needs, especially this Christmas.

“As Christmas draws near, they shouldn’t feel like they were left behind,” Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian said.

According to Kristine Jayme of the local social welfare and development office, each of the 312 families received P5,000.

Gatchalian personally handed over the aid the other night to the recipients at the Malanday covered court in Sitio Lingahan, where most of the fire victims are staying. 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region also gave grocery items to the victims, Jayme said.

Gatchalian also went to the Alejandrino residence in Barangay Palasan, where some of the fire victims are temporarily sheltered.

District 1 Rep. Rex Gatchalian also pledged to provide P2,000 additional financial assistance to each family.

Councilor Alvin Feliciano, Valenzuela barangay league president, also urged his fellow barangay chairmen to allocate portion of their calamity funds, saying that the Commission on Audit already gave them the “green light” to use part of the funds to help the fire victims.

On Dec. 4 and Dec. 6, fires broke out in the squatter colonies in Barangays Palasan and Malanday, respectively, affecting a total of 312 families.         – Pete Laude