State of calamity up in 2 Mandaue villages

Following a tragic fire that killed at least one person and rendered thousands homeless, officials of Mandaue City in Cebu have declared a state of calamity in two villages in the area. Sun-Star Cebu (www.sunstar.com.ph) reported Friday that this will facilitate aid to families who lost their homes in Mantuyong and Guizo villages. The Mandaue city council also learned that the fire destroyed at least P6.8 million worth of property and left 1,356 families homeless. But as of Friday morning, fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire, even as officials have only begun to see the extent of the damage. City Councilor Wenceslao Gakit said the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC) passed a resolution Thursday declaring Mantuyong and Guizo a calamity area. Gakit said this will allow the council to appropriate funds for relief assistance. The CDCC usually gives P8,000 to house owners and P3,000 to room renters. He noted the city’s P26.4-million calamity fund for this year remains intact. For its part, the Cebu provincial government will give P5 million as assistance. Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said the money will be taken from the capitol’s calamity funds. Garcia said the P5 million is on top of the assistance that the Capitol will give to each affected family. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who visited the fire scene Thursday, instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to help in the clearing operations. The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWO) already distributed sacks of rice, sardines, noodles, mats and other items to the affected families. Provincial Social Welfare Office Marivic Garces said they are still awaiting the final list of victims for the monetary assistance that the Capitol will give for each family. A different amount will be given for house owners and those who were renting the homes they were living in. Despite his word war with Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will also help fire victims. He did not specify what form of assistance the city will give, as this will depend on what the victims need, such as portable toilets and other facilities. On the other hand, Mandaue City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Alexander Abadinas said he assigned PNP personnel to secure three evacuation sites, despite that only few of the victims went there. He said 40 families are staying in the Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School; 30 families in City Central School; and 30 families in the former Norkis display center. City deputy fire marshal Jose Laurito said it took firefighters three hours and 45 minutes to control the blaze. At least 1,051 houses were leveled to the ground, leaving only 12 others standing or partially burned. He said the fire killed 37-year-old Jose Araneta and injured Richard Estenzo, 16; and firemen SFO2 Ramonito Abot, FO2 John Herediano and FO3 Alenito Lumbab of the Talamban fire station. As of 4:30 p.m. Thursday, the city social welfare services head Candida Comaingking registered 629 fire-affected families in Mantuyong and 727 families in Guizo. Initial investigation showed the fire started about 3:45 p.m. last Wednesday in Sitio Asinan in Mantuyong and spread to Guizo. Fire investigators said the fire originated at the house of Teresita Bughaw. Laurito said they are looking at an unattended cooking, electrical misuse and arson as the possible causes. At least ten fire hoses were destroyed in the blaze. The heat also melted the paint of Consolacion fire truck. - GMANews.TV