Treñas: Nabitasan to be placed under state of calamity
In spite of political differences, Mayor Jerry Treñas will request the Sangguniang Panglungsod to declare Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz under the state of calamity in this Wednesday’s regular session.
Treñas said there is a need for him to ask the legislative body to declare the barangay under the state of calamity because of the damage brought by last Saturday’s conflagration which left hundred of families homeless.
The fire also claimed the life of 48-year old Trinidad Formacion and caused injuries to several others. The fire quickly spread because most of the houses were made of light materials. The weekend’s fire is the first recorded calamity that occurred in the city in the first month of the year.
The chief executive disregarded the political indifferences he has with Barangay Captain Noriel Arsulo in order to fast track the delivery of assistance to the fire victims. Arsulo is a strong supporter of Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez and a critic of the Treñas administration.
Even before the request for the declaration, Treñas already asked the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to assist the fire victims of their needs. His order came after he visited the barangay.
The declaration of the legislative body placing Nabitasan under the state of calamity would allow the city government to spend five percent of its calamity fund to help the victims of their needs.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported that the fire occurred past 12 midnight last Friday while the city was busy with various activities in line with the Dinagyang Festival. The fire quickly spread because most of the houses were made of light materials and because of the gusty winds.
The city’s firefighters had to ask augmentation from fire trucks from neighboring towns to help put out the fire. The fire was put under control past 3 a.m. of Saturday.
Eighteen other persons were reported to have been injured as they panicked to save themselves and their belongings.
It was reported that occupants of some houses were not around as they watched various Dinagyang-related activities during the night.
Fire authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire but initial investigation showed that the fire originated from the house of a certain Aurora Legaspi.
Considered as the biggest fire to hit Iloilo City for more than a year, it razed 120 homes and left some hundreds of families homeless.
The News Today learned that the lot where the houses stand is owned by the Department of Education.
