ACTING Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella yesterday assured the victims left homeless by last Saturday’s fire that they will not be relocated, and they can rebuild in the same area.
“It has been the policy of the city government that nobody should be relocated by the reason of fire. Second, that there should be a re-blocking,” said Labella, who visited the fire scene in sitio Avocado, barangay Lahug, Cebu City, yesterday.
The fire left at least 679 individuals homeless. The victims are now temporarily staying in 17 classrooms at the Lahug Elementary School.
Labella said the clearing operations at the affected area will start today.
He also asked for patience and for the victims to be open to the idea of re-blocking their area.
He assured that those whose houses were razed to the ground will receive a P10,000 cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Services. Those whose houses were only gutted will receive P5,000.
The acting mayor also said that they were considering giving extra assistance to the victims.
“That’s one thing we will seriously consider in our meeting tomorrow (Monday) with the city treasurer and other city department heads. (We would like to see) any possibility (that is) legally feasible to somehow add to the assistance especially since it’s the holiday season, and New Year is fast approaching. (This is) to mitigate the misery of the victims,” he said
Councilor Dave Tumulak, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) chairman, said there is still big amount in disaster funds and it can still provide for the fire victims.
In the updated list of CCDRRMC, the houses that were destroyed reached 69. Five others were gutted. The total families affected reached 175.
Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama also visited the fire scene yesterday.
“I have visited the site as mayor elect, suspended mayor, volunteer and encompassing as a concerned citizen,” Rama said.
He said he coordinated with acting Mayor Labella and suggested that Labella follow the template in handling this kind of situation.