SIXTY houses were destroyed, while 13 were damaged in a fire at Zone 12, Barangay Calaparan, Arevalo district, Iloilo City, afternoon of February 22.
Donna Magno, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head, said the fire affected 75 families, or 293 individuals, 115 of them were children and teenagers age 0 to 14.
“Seven persons received medical treatment for dizziness and hypertension. But no one died from the incident,” Magno said.
Gene Garingalao, head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, said the City Government on Thursday 75 sacks of rice and boxes of canned goods to the evacuees who have sought refuge at Calaparan gym.
The Philippine Red Cross Iloilo Chapter was on site after the fire and fed around 1,000 persons with arroz caldo. The Daughters of St. Paul and other donors donated relief goods and eating utensils.
The fire victims will also receive financial assistance from the City.
“Those with destroyed houses will receive P5,000 and those with damage houses will receive P2,000,” Garingalao said, adding he wants the financial assistance released Friday, February 23, as per Mayor Jose Espinosa's order.
He added that fire victims only need to present documents, like certification from the Bureau of Fire Protection, among others.
The mayor, who visited the evacuees at Calaparan gym at 3:38 p.m. Thursday, assured barangay leaders and affected families of the support of the City Government.
Rey Jason Gregorio, cluster lead for volunteer management, mobilized youth volunteers in the city to distribute the provisions to the victims.
The Barangay DRRMC led by village chief Cecilia Nava called for donors of sleeping mats, blankets, pillows, eating utensils, slippers, personal hygiene kits, used clothing, emergency lamps, school supplies of affected children, cooking utensils, and portable toilet/portalets, among others.
Meanwhile, based on the report of the Bureau of Fire Protection, the blaze broke out at 1:19 p.m. and was declared out at 3:23 p.m.
Firefighters from Iloilo City Fire Station responded, together with ICAG, FedFire and volunteer groups Unicorn, Scorpion, Boyet Water Tanker, Circle J Trader and Soriano Water Trader.
Investigators are yet to release a report on what caused the fire. (SunStar Philippines)