Calamity status declared on fire-struck Mandaue sitio

One of several fire victims looks at what remained of her house in Zone Camansi, barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

DESPITE questions raised by their barangay chairman, the Paknaan barangay council declared Zone Camansi under a state of calamity a day after fire gutted 26 homes and left 57 families homeless.

Paknaan barangay chairman Malaquis Soco said 200 victims are temporarily housed at the Vamo Gymnasium near the fire site.

He said there was no guarantee that they can release financial aid to the survivors.

He said he is unsure if the number of victims meets the 25 percent requirement set by the government for the declaration of one area as a calamity site.

“Declaring a state of calamity is made so the barangay can prepare for distribution of financial assistance. We need advice from the Commission on Audit (COA) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) if we can do that,” he said.

Zone Camansi is one of 24 zones or sitios in barangay Paknaan.

Soco said the barangay passed the calamity resolution because most of the fire survivors were unable to salvage their belongings.

Avelina Cabahug, 56, said she was inside her house when the fire spread to two houses away from her home.

“I panicked and ran out of the house, not thinking of bringing anything with me,” she said.

Soco said the barangay can give P1,000 to each fire victim.

He said the City Social Welfare Office can distribute food and other essentials like pillows, blankets and mats to the families.

He said fire victims can go back to their place after one week since most of them were homeowners.