BEFORE the month ends, fire survivors in three sitios in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City can return home.
Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) operations chief Genevieve Alcoseba said they would implement the old reblocking plan even though the City already reblocked the area when fire struck Sitio Bato in 2013.
“There is already an existing subdivision plan for the area and we will just have to follow that and make sure it is implemented and followed,” she said. Alcoseba said they would strictly implement the discipline zone in the area to make sure that enough access would be provided for fire responders.
She said a six-meter interior road was part of the subdivision plan when the reblocking was done in 2013 but this was reduced to three meters due to encroachment.
“Construction extensions to their houses will no longer be allowed so we will have enough access in the area,” she said. Last Feb. 5, fire struck Sitios Bato, Pig Vendor and Castilaan and razed more than 200 houses.
The clearing operation in the fire-stricken areas will start this week.
In the meantime, survivors can occupy the unfinished Unit II building of the Carbon Public Market, which is close to the fire scene.
The survey of home lots will immediately follow once the clearing is completed. (RVC)