Tanza fire victims to get financial aid
The city government will give financial assistance of P5,000 each to the 36 families whose houses were gutted by fire last December 30, 2008 in the boundary of barangays Tanza-Esperanza and Malipayon in Iloilo City.
One person died and four others were injured in the fire that razed 23 houses in the slum area.
The city government reportedly would give P10,000 to the family of 18-year old Richard Docdocil whose charred body was found under what remained of their house.
The 36 affected families were temporarily housed in a nearby evacuation center but others have started transferring to their relatives' houses.
It was learned that the five-hour fire started at the house of Harlec Pampag that was hit by a rocket firework (pwitis) lit by their neighbor.
The fire quickly spread to other houses which were mostly made of light materials. When firefighters arrived at the area, the fire had already consumed five houses.
The Bureau of Fire Protection estimates the damage to be over P1.5 million.
Reportedly, Docdocil was already out of their burning house when he went back to retrieve something. He was not able to get out alive.
The fire also injured two firefighters and a resident. Volunteer firefighter Rey Gallardo of the Federation Volunteer Fire Brigade fractured his leg when he fell from the roof, while Fire Officer 1 Jake Ronald Solis of the Jaro Fire Sub-station suffered a lacerated wound at his left middle finger.
Ronnie Albona was electrocuted. It was also reported that a woman was run over by a motorcycle in the disorder during the initial stage of the fire.