TALISAY City Mayor Eduardo Gullas will implement a reblocking in Sitio Tunga, Barangay Tanke after it was hit by a fire early this week.
Gullas and Tanke Barangay Captain Perla Cabanes saw the need to reblock the area after firefighters had difficulty penetrating to the fire scene because of narrow roads.
The late night fire last Tuesday left 19 families homeless.
Gullas told reporters that the reblocking will ensure access road to firefighters should a similar accident will happen in the area.
The mayor also plans to set up hydrants in strategic areas in the barangay for fire trucks to easily get water during fires.
Gullas, who rushed to the area during the fire, admitted narrow roads leading to the interior portion of the village proved to be a challenge for firefighters.
“Maayo lang kung ang gagmay’ng multicab makasulod, pero ang atong mga dagkong firetruck kay kutob ra gyud sa gawas (Multicabs can pass through the area but big vehicles like fire trucks can’t,” he said.
Gullas said that if not for the heavy downpour that occurred last Tuesday night, the fire could have damaged more houses.
For Gullas, the accident in Tanke proved to be a “baptism of fire” for Senior Insp. Joel Abarquez, the new Talisay City fire marshal.
Gullas tasked City Social Welfare chief Felipa Solana to check on the needs of the fire survivors.
The mayor also ordered the approval of a P10,000 cash aid for each homeowner whose house was destroyed in the fire. He said that the ordered the increase of the cash aid for fire survivors after he was informed by the local budget and treasury offices that Talisay still has enough savings for this year.
Most of the survivors are temporarily sheltered at the barangay hall, while some of the families opted to live with their families.