CEBU, Philippines - After a fire hit 12 houses in Barangay Alang-alang, Mandaue City, sixth district Representative Luigi Quisumbing distributed relief goods and used clothing to the fire victims.
In a statement furnished to The FREEMAN, the Office of Rep. Quisumbing said that about 57 families or 27 households were affected when a fire struck Sitio White Flower, also known as Kandingan, Sunday afternoon.
Quisumbing said "it is very difficult when you lose your hard-earned property or sometimes even suffer injury to your person or family members, but we try our best to quickly respond to the crisis and ensure that they get the necessary assistance to get back on their feet at the soonest possible time."
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes also directed the City Social Welfare Office to provide the necessary food assistance for the fire victims.
The Barangay Council of Alang-alang is expected to declare the place under a state of calamity to allow the city government to allocate funds as financial assistance to the fire victims.
According to initial reports, the fire broke out at 1:08 p.m. at the second floor of the house owned by Rosemarie Maloloy-on.
Fire investigators said a lighted candle was likely to be the cause of the fire as there were four children allegedly playing with candles inside the house when the fire broke out.
The house of Malaloy-on did not reportedly have a supply of electricity after it was cut off sometime ago.
It took 34 minutes before the fire was controlled and about an hour before it was declared out. No one was reported injured but the incident was believed to have caused P200,000 in damages. (FREEMAN)