ZAMBOANGA City Mayor John Dalipe on Monday morning, April 24, 2023, led the distribution of cash assistance and pabaon relief packs to the 130 families remaining at the Don Gregorio Evangelista Memorial School (DON GEMS) covered court in Sta. Catalina village.

The recipient-families were temporarily housed at the covered court after their houses were razed by fire on February 20 in Kasanyangan village.

With the payout of the Assistance in Crisis Situation (AICS) of P5,000 per family and the pabaon packs, the families are expected to move out of the school to be home-based or to be with their relatives and next of kin.

Dalipe has tasked concerned departments to help in the flushing and clearing of the DON GEMS covered court to pave the way for the resumption of classes and school operations.

Dalipe stressed that the city’s offer for the affected families to temporarily transfer to either the convention center in Pasonanca village or evacuation center in Cabatangan remains.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has written the city government inquiring about the latter’s commitment to clear the school premises of fire-hit families 15 days after the evacuation took place as specified in the guidelines.

City Social Welfare and Development Officer Socorro Rojas said the city government has conducted series of dialogues with the concerned families informing them about the options available.

Rojas said it is high time for the families to vacate the school and avail of the options provided by the city so that the students can resume their classes as soon as possible. (SunStar Zamboanga)