Fire victims to get financial aid
Smoke billows from the fire that destroyed 53 houses in Brgy. Rizal Ibarra, City Proper confront firefighters Tuesday afternoon.The 81 families in Brgy. Rizal Ibarra, City Proper whose houses were razed Tuesday afternoon will receive cash assistance from the Iloilo City Government.
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the financial assistance may range from P3,000 to P 5,000 per family depending upon the availability of the fund.
Right after the Tuesday fire, the Social Welfare and Development Office has been sending relief assistance to the 270 affected persons.
A crisis center was set up near the barangay’s basketball court to serve as temporary shelter of the victims.
The City Engineering Office will also help the fire victims in the reconstruction of their houses, the mayor said.
More than 50 houses were destroyed by the fire that killed three young children trapped in the house where the fire believed to have started.
The fatalities were identified as Roxie Ledesma, 4; Jonaireh Ledesma, 5; and Kyle Dumalag, 4.
Mabilog said a private person has donated caskets for the children.
Investigation of the Bureau of Fire Protection revealed the three children were playing with lighted candles.*
Ilonggos express trust, confidence in PNoy
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III had been efficient in doing what was expected of him during his first 100 days in office.
This was the view of a cross-section of the Ilonggos even as some of them noted it was too early to gauge his performance.
“I think President Aquino walked his talk in the first 100 days, particularly in terms of regaining the citizens’ trust in government little by little, in exemplifying modesty and cost efficiency in government, in efficiency in management, in instilling ethical values in government,” said Jigger Latoza, director of the University of San Agustin Center for Research and Publications.
However, Latoza, a columnist of a local paper, noted that the present administration “has yet to articulate a clear and coherent development vision” because the “efforts seem sporadic.”
Lea Lara, executive director of the Iloilo Business Club, said that President Aquino’s first 100 days in Malacañang was also full of challenges for the country and its people.
She noted that while the President was “adjusting to the post,” the Filipinos at the same time “were adjusting to the kind of government he wanted to have.”
“Despite problems the trust of the nation is still with him,” she underscored.
Lara also said she would like to credit President Aquino “about the stock market that has stabilized compared to the last months of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.”
“He is more on housekeeping these past 100 days so we expect that he will give more attention and detail on projects that will address priority problems like health, education, basic utilities, peace and order and employment,” she added.
Maureen Ramos, president of the Iloilo Credit Association, said President Aquino has still her “overflowing trust.”
“It’s too soon to gauge his governance,” she opined, as she also lauded the initial steps of President Aquino in addressing the issue on poverty and fighting corruption.
Lucy Montealto, a government employee, meanwhile, said she is uncertain in assessing the President because she believes that Mr. Aquino’s “full capacity as a leader could not be measured in 100 days.”
“Give him at least a year,” she said, adding that at present, the President is “busy correcting the perceived wrongdoings of the past administration.”
She noted that President Aquino “still enjoys the trust of the majority of the Filipinos.”
Security guard Nicholo Reyes said it was good that the Aquino administration had been able to take off as he lauded the President for inviting investors that could provide jobs to thousands of unemployed Filipinos.
He also praised President Aquino for pushing the conditional cash transfer which, he believes, can really uplift the lives of the poor.*PNA
