City and province to work hand in hand

MONDAY’S afternoon fire in Barangay Apas has moved both the Cebu provincial and city governments into action to address the plight of fire victims.

Apas barangay captain Ramil Ayuman met with representatives from both local government units who have come up with an agreement to work hand in hand, in relocating the fire victims as the area where the fire occurred is owned by the provincial government, while the city government has jurisdiction over the residents.

According to Provincial Legal Officer Orvi Ortega, even before the fire gutted around 162 houses, the provincial government already committed to relocate 87 households that would be affected by a planned road development project.

Ortega said 76 out of these 87 households were affected by the fire; but all of them will eventually be relocated to another province-owned area in Barangay Kalunasan.

The Cebu City government will take care of the relocation of the rest of the households not included in the province’s 87, said Ortega adding that Pagtambayayong Foundation, Inc. has offered their property, also located in Barangay Kalunasan, as a relocation site for the rest of the fire victims although not for free.

A 40-square meter cut delineated for a single  household was pegged at P1,680 per square meter by the foundation with the monthly amortization to be agreed upon later on.

The city government will also distribute financial assistance of P20,000 to each household affected by the fire, including those whose relocation will be shouldered by the provincial government.

Clearing operations will be undertaken by the city government, Ortega said, with the possible assistance of the AFP 53rd Engineering Brigade.

Starting today, Ortega said that blue guards will be deployed at the fire site to prevent looting of materials that could still be used by the fire victims in building their homes at the relocation site.