
A TOTAL of 126 families who are fire victims in Mandaue City are set to receive P5,000 to P10,000 in financial assistance, following a devastating fire that destroyed over 100 houses across two barangays.
The fire, which broke out in Sitio Pokang, Barangay Looc, and Purok Orchids in Barangay Opao, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, left families homeless and caused significant damage to their properties.
In an interview on Monday, Jan. 27, City Councilor Jennifer Del Mar, chairperson of the committee on disaster risk reduction and management, said families whose homes were damaged will be given P5,000, while those whose homes were destroyed will receive P10,000.
In Barangay Looc, one house was partially burned, and 49 homes were destroyed. In Barangay Opao, 51 houses were burned, affecting 477 individuals.
Del Mar said the City Social Welfare Services will be responsible for distributing the financial aid to the affected families.
Additionally, burial assistance of P10,000 will be provided to the family of the sole fatality, a 62-year-old woman.
Despite being rushed to the Mandaue City Hospital, she passed away due to acute myocardial infarction, or commonly known as heart attack.
Burial assistance
Councilor Jimmy Lumapas confirmed the burial assistance, adding that they might increase the amount if necessary.
“P10,000 is the burial assistance that we will give, and it is a significant amount. We can still increase the assistance if needed,” said Lumapas.
Rebuilding efforts remain a significant challenge for the victims, especially in Barangays Looc and Opao, where homes are densely packed, complicating the process of recovery, said Del Mar.
She added that the City cannot declare a state of calamity because the City’s guidelines require that 15 percent of the population and 30 percent of livelihoods be affected for such a declaration.
The victims are currently being housed in evacuation centers at the Looc and Opao barangay gyms.
The fire was swiftly contained by firefighters, who raised the alarm to the second level before it escalated to the fourth alarm.
The blaze was declared extinguished at 7:33 p.m., after causing approximately P3.25 million in damages and affecting 1,300 square meters of land. / CAV