INSTEAD of going around the city streets to sell “ukay-ukay” shoes and clothes, Hayno Sakalain, a Badjao, is stuck at the evacuation center in Miniforest, Boulevard, Davao City after their house was razed by a massive fire on Wednesday, February 19.
They were inside their house on stilts when they heard someone yelling that there was a fire in their area. They were able to save some of their things as the fire was still far from their house then. However, minutes later the fire was quick to spread throughout the coastal neighborhood and engulfed over 200 houses in Barangay 23-C.
The fire burned down their shanty along with their sewing machine and the boat owned by their father. The boat was used by her brother for fishing, their source of livelihood.
The evacuation area is filled with displaced fire victims and somehow turned into a playground by children, some unaware of the recent disaster.
As of 2 p.m. on Thursday, the Davao City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) recorded a total of 703 individuals who lost their homes. Of this number, 288 are house owners, 374 are sharers, 65 are renters, 31 are boarders.
One problem that they are facing right now is the sanitation and lack of a decent comfort room.
“Wala pami kaligo kay wala pay tubig. Usahay gani kung mangihi mi, manguha mi ug baldi para sudlanan unya ilabay sa kanal (We have not taken a bath yet because there was no water. Whenever we pee, we just get a pail and use it as a urinal, then throw it at the canal),” Sakalain said. She also admitted that there are fellow tribesman who have no hygiene and just pee anywhere.
It was not the first time that they were displaced because of fire. She recalled that in 2014, their house was likewise razed by the fire and had to start from scratch.
In the latest information of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the cause of the fire was electrical. It started at the ceiling of the house of Fernando L. Anton.
The city government had already extended help to the victims. They were given blankets, mats and mosquito nets as well as food provision. They will likewise receive cash assistance.
Other fire incidents
Hours after the massive fire in Barangay 23-C, another fire erupted in Purok 13, Kasilak, Barangay 76-A, Bucana, Davao City. It was reported to BFP around 7:50 p.m. on February 20 involving a residential area.
Based on the report, it started at the house owned by Rhodora T. Elladora and reached the third alarm status.
It was declared fire out around 10 p.m., damaging an estimated P700,000 worth of properties.
A total of six houses were destroyed and two houses were damaged.
Meanwhile, a 61-year-old person with special needs perished in a fire on Toyota St., Barangay Centro Agdao, Davao City on Thursday morning, February 21.
The Lanang Fire Station said the blaze started at the wall of a stock room owned by a certain Antonio Bioco, 59, and Armida A. Bioco, 51 years old.
The lone fatality was Adela Abad, 61, sister of Armida A. Bioco.
Damage was estimated at P200,000, with one house destroyed and two damaged. The cause was electrical arcing.