Survivors of the April 22 fire that hit Sitio Drihoa, Barangay Lahug seek temporary shelter under this tent, which is located just within the vicinity of the area that was hit by the fire. | CDND Photo / Zena V. Magto
CEBU CITY, Philippines — If you are thinking about donating to the fire survivors of Barangay Lahug, you might want to consider giving them sleeping mats.
Barangay Captain Hazel Muaña said the families of Sitio Drihoa in Barangay Lahug are in need of sleeping mats to make them a little bit comfortable under their temporary shelter, which is located within the vicinity of the area that was hit by fire on Monday morning, April 22.
Muaña said the barangay council has already provided the affected families with towels and blankets. Some of the fire survivors’ personal necessities are addressed by relatives and family members, who are also residents of Barangay Lahug.
She said they are not facing any major problems in responding to the needs of the villagers, whose houses were razed to ashes by the April 22 fire.
“Wala ra gyud, dili gyud ta maka ingon nga naay problema kay daghan sila relatives nga naa diri, unya gi house ra pod ang uban,” said Muaña.
(They have relatives here, who help them out. Some of the fire survivors live with their relatives.)
“Pero nag contact mi run sa Disaster (City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office) kun maka provide ba sila og mga banig, kay wala man sila’y mga higdaanan bitaw nga ma pilo-pilo nila,” she added.
(But we will contact the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office if they can provide them with mats that they can sleep on.)
The fire survivors are currently sleeping on sheets of plywood, which are covered by blankets and towels provided by the barangay.
Muaña said a tent serves as their temporary shelter. The area has electricity and water supply, which is made possible with the help of the Barangay Lahug residents.
The Department of Social Welfare and Services is expected to distribute family kits on Wednesday, April 24.
Muaña said that the council will continue to provide for the needs of the victims until they can recover from their loss.
A fire broke out early morning of April 22, which razed 14 houses and left 24 families or 150 individuals homeless.
Authorities said the fire started from a burning electric post near a two-storey house owned by a certain Raffy Rapsing.
Estimated total damage was pegged at 350,000. / celr