Relief operations for fire victims ongoing
Iloilo City -- A call for donations has been made by City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas for the more than a thousand families left homeless by the huge fire that occurred last Monday in Brgy. North Baluarte, Molo, Iloilo City.
The fire victims temporarily housed in Baluarte Elementary School, North Baluarte Gymnasium and the open field of the Iloilo Fishing Port Complex barely saved something due the swift spreading of the fire.
Treñas appealed to all Ilonggos to donate noodles, canned foods, medicines, bottled waters, used clothes, mats, pillows and blankets to be distributed to the fire victims.
While CSWDO chief Claire Dignadice has recommended to Mayor Treñas the declaration of Brgy. North Baluarte under the state of calamity.
Dignadice said, based on their record 296 families or 1,480 persons were affected by last Monday's fire. The number of affected families comprised half of the entire population of Brgy. North Baluarte.
The barangay has an estimated population of 600 families. However, Dignadice said, the number of affected families is still subject for verification.
Dignadice said their budget for relief assistance is only good for 14 days reason why there is an immediate need for the Sangguniang Panlungsod to declare the barangay under the state of calamity. Once declared under the state of calamity, the barangay can spend their five percent calamity fund.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod is expected to declare Brgy. North Baluarte under state of calamity in their regular session Wednesday, April 12.
Dignadice added that only 152 families went to the evacuation center in Baluarte Elementary School. Others opted to remain in their barangay gymnasium while others stayed at a vacant lot inside the Iloilo Fishing Port Complex.
Dignadice said the number is expected to increase after the different social workers tasked to help the affected families would have submitted their report.
She encouraged the other affected families to go to the evacuation center for them to avail the immediate relief assistance such as food and clothing.
They could not be included in the counting if they are not physically present during the distribution of relief goods, she said.
Dignadice added that the distribution process is being facilitated by Barangay Capt. Emilio Locsin of the said barangay.
Initially, several individuals and organizations donated relief goods to the fire victims coursed through radio station Aksyon Radyo which launched "Operation Bulig" immediately after the fire tragedy.
Dignadice said Msgr. Meliton Oso, of the Jaro Social Action Center (Jasac) pledged to donate some relief goods for the fire victims on Monday.
Meanwhile, St. Anne Parish parish priest Tomas Delicana also appealed to the parishioners of Molo to donate anything from food, clothing and beddings to the fire victims. He made his appeal during the mass.
He said those interested to donate can bring their donations to the church or directly to the fire victims. North Baluarte is one of the 18 barangays under Molo parish.
The fire victims, on the other hand, are having problems on how to rebuild their houses as most of them have no money to spend.
Meanwhile, barangay officials had proposed that proper zoning be made in the rebuilding of houses to ensure that there is enough passage way and so that a similar incident would no longer happen.