AT LEAST 20 sitios in different barangays of Mandaue City are highly-congested and are not easily accesible to firefighters if fire strikes the area.
The Mandaue City Fire Department (MCFD) recommended to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) that every barangay should have at least 20 fire extinguishers.
SFO4 Roy Garcia, chief for operations of MCFD, said these highly congested areas are usually located in government-owned or private and unused lots.
MCFD has been conducting fire safety information and dissemination seminars in every barangay so village officials and residents will learn the measures that should be taken to prevent fire, especially after the disaster in Barangays Mantuyong and Guizo last month.
More than 2,000 families in Mantuyong and Guizo were affected by the fire last March 12.
The displaced families have since been staying at the Cebu International Convention Center grounds while the development of the fire site is ongoing.
It was the third time that the area was hit by fire.
Since the area was highly-congested, fire firefighters had a hard time putting out the flames because there was no proper road network.
“Mao na nga kung naay fire safety seminar, ila gyud ni pagatambongan (That’s why if BFP conducts a fire safety seminar, people should attend),” Garcia said.
Highly congested sitios include Aroma in Subangdaku; Sta. Cruz and La Purisima in Guizo; Zones 3, 4 and 7 in Mantuyong; Kapusuan in Cambaro; Paradise and Bohol-bohol in Looc; and Ilang-ilang and Grancena in Opao.
Others are Kalubihan, Kamanggahan and Lemonsito in Umapad, Pulang Bukid in Alang-alang, Zones Sili and Camansi in Paknaan; Lapyahan in Labogon; Alliance of Two Hearts in Basak; and San Vicente Ferrer in Tabok.
According to Garcia’s estimates, there are about 200 houses in a 1,000-square meter lot and about 500 to 1,000 in a one-hectare property.
“Usa sa akong gi-suggest sa DRRM, kung mahimo mo-acquire ang barangay og fire extinguishers,” he said.
It is also ideal to have a standpipe system in every barangay, Garcia said.
A standpipe system has several pipes connected to a water supply.
The barangays should allocate a budget for this, Garcia said.
However, Garcia said only Barangay Ibabao-Estancia out of the 27 barangays in the city has a standpipe system.
Aside from budget constraints, Garcia said lot owners do not allow the barangays to let the water pipes pass their property.