TALISAY City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. called on the public to help the 30 families affected by the fire that struck Sitio Lingkoy in Barangay Cansojong Sunday afternoon, July 12, 2020.
Gullas said City Government will provide assistance to the survivors but this will not be enough to help them recover from their losses.
The mayor said residents of the barangay have been having a hard time because of the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. With last Sunday’s blaze, their condition will surely have worsened, he said.
Gullas said that while the City Government is processing the survivors’ financial assistance, the City Social Welfare Office (CSWO) will provide them with hot meals for the next three days and bedding that they can use while they’re at the evacuation area.
He said social workers will also conduct a survey on all affected families so the assistance the City will provide will be distributed evenly and properly.
He said the cash aid should be ready by Thursday, July 16.
Although some of the affected families have relatives where they can temporarily stay while they rebuild their lives, some who have no alternate homes to stay in has been transferred to the Cansojong gym for the meantime, he said.
With the threat of Covid-19, Gullas said he has instructed the CSWO and the barangay to organize the evacuation site with consideration to strict physical distancing. He also instructed the City Health Office to monitor the health of the survivors.
The mayor said he plans to coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development 7 and the offices of First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas, his grandfather, and Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia. He said the agency and the two officials may be able to help the affected families.
“Please donate. I urge people, especially who have extra, to donate in this difficult time. If you have donations for the affected residents, please contact Christian Lazarte or Tristan Rama through the Local Youth Development Office City of Talisay,” the young Gullas said.
The fire in Sitio Lingkoy razed 15 houses, destroying more than P3 million worth of properties.
The Bureau of Fire Protection has yet to determine the cause of the blaze. (BBT, PJB)