THREE children, who were reportedly missing in the fire incident in Sitio Sampaloc, Barangay Santo Niño, Mati City on Friday evening, February 8, have been confirmed dead.
The fatalities, who were trapped inside their house, were identified as siblings Ahmily Earl Halipa, 10, and Chris Herish Halipa, 3, and their cousin Alicia Denise Halipa, 8.
The massive fire that gutted at least 25 houses also displaced over a hundred residents.
Mati City Fire Marshall Senior Inspector Christian Cena of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said that based on their initial investigation, electrical ignition caused by pinched wire was the cause of the fire that damaged around P1.5 million of properties.
The fire started around 11:30 p.m. on Friday and was declared “fire out” around 3:20 a.m. on Saturday, February 9.
A total of 60 families who lost their homes during the fire received cash assistance and relief goods from the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental and City Government of Mati.
Based on their statement on their official Facebook page, each family received P3,000 immediate cash assistance from the governor and donations extended through him by a business group.
The families also received food packs, non-food items like toiletries and blankets. The PBA Party list also donated 60 containers of distilled water.
A stress debriefing and psychosocial interventions were also conducted by the Philippine National Red Cross for the victims.
As of Saturday, based on the report of BFP, a total of 44 houses were destroyed while two were damaged.
Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, who led the distribution of relief goods, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and ordered to expedite the distribution of assistance for the victims.
The Provincial Government and City Government of Mati also pledged to provide P10,000 cash assistance for those with totally damaged houses and P5,000 for those with partially damaged homes.
Financial assistance of P10,000 for each death casualty will also be given to the bereaved families.
For the building of razed houses, Mati City Mayor Carlo Rabat has committed to provide a relocation site consisting of 40 lots.