Rama wants fire victims to move to classrooms

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the survivors of the fire in Barangay Poblacion Pardo transferred to the school in the barangay for health reasons. They are currently occupying the barangay sports complex.

“If we allow them to continue sleeping on the cement, problem of health will follow,” Rama said, adding, that the sports complex is not “conducive” in accommodating the survivors.

Rama said the Department of Education should “not be greedy” in lending classrooms for the fire survivors.

“Dep-Ed should not be greedy because we are talking about people, we are talking about family, the city should also be fast so that if there would be inconvenience in the part of the school, it would be an inconvenience that is not extended, t should be tolerable,” he said.

Rama said classrooms may not be able to provide total comfort to the survivors, but it is better than the complex that is not fully covered.

He wants all families transferred immediately.

“If there is an inconvenience sa students, there is much inconvenience sa families. Do not add misery to the miserable state,” he added.

Last Wednesday afternoon, over 600 individuals were left homeless by a fire that hit Sitio Kawayan, Upper Lucimba, Barangay Poblacion Pardo.

In a separate interview, Barangay Captain Althea Lim said the principal of Poblacion Elementary School has allowed them to utilize 14 classrooms but six more are needed to house all 154 families, with 616 individuals.

A classroom can accommodate 20 to 30 individuals, she said.

Lim said the Poblacion National High School cannot accommodate the fire survivors because doing so would affect the classes both during the day and at night.

She said they are still negotiating with the school management to address the concern. She is hoping that the fire survivors will be transferred to the classrooms today.

Rama said the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor should hasten the road reblocking so that residents can return to their areas in a week or two.

On the issue of ownership of the land, Rama said City Hall will not allow families to be displaced because of a fire.

“Fire should never be a reason for owners to fence. Any owners making a fence without fencing permit, that is always be a matter that City of Cebu will make issue out of,” he said. – Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/JMO (FREEMAN)