800 families left homeless in Pasay fire; damage at P4 million

MANILA, Philippines - Some 800 familes were left homeless as fire hit a residential area at the boundary of Pasay and Makati cities yesterday morning.

Pasay Fire Marshall Senior Inspector Junito Maslang said an estimated P4 million worth of property was destroyed.

The fire started at about 9:40 a.m. in one of the houses in Bangkal, Makati City. The fire quickly spread to houses, mostly shanties located along E. Rod­riguez Extension, Edsa in Pasay City.

Senior Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, Pasay police chief, said affected by the fire are 800 squatter families living in Barangay 143 and 144. Since their homes are made mostly of wood and light materials, the flames immediately spread and destroyed their houses. The fire that reached the general alarm, caused heavy traffic on EDSA and the South Superhighway.

Firefighters from neighboring cities proceeded at the site to help put out the blaze when a general alarm was hoisted around 12 noon. However, narrow roads leading to the fire scene made it difficult for the firemen and their equipment to get in.

Concerned officials identified the injured resident as Jun-Jun Buenafe, 21. The latter suffered leg injury when he jumped from his burning house. GMA News reporter Steve Daylisan also sustained injury when he lost his balance and hurt his hand while reporting the incident. They were brought to the San Juan de Dios Hospital.

A fire-out was declared around 1:45 p.m.

Rescue units

Moreover, rescue units from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority responded to the fire that razed at least 1,000 houses in Pasay City and Makati City yesterday. MMDA Chairman Oscar Ino­centes ordered the deployment of at least 200 traffic enforcers and emergency crews to Pasay City to help untangle the traffic jams caused by the fire.

MMDA traffic enforcers also diverted traffic on both lanes of EDSA to C-5 and other secondary roads away from the fire to assist responding firefighters. Inocentes instructed MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno to ready the agency’s 500 more construction crew composed of carpenters, masons, electricians, plumbers to assist the fire-affected residents of Pasay City.

Inocentes also appealed to contractors to assist the MMDA in rebuilding the houses of the fire victims. “These people have lost their homes and everything else. They need help, especially this Christmas,” Inocentes, who always have a big heart for the poor, said. – With Mike Frialde