The one month period estimated by the Cebu provincial government as the length of time the Mandaue City fire victims would stay at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) grounds meant that they would need all the help they can get until they can rebuild their homes.
Yet for all the resources at their disposal, including the CICC structure that had been left to deteriorate ever since it was damaged by both the Oct. 13, 2013 earthquake and supertyphoon Yolanda, the Cebu provincial government had not given enough to help the Mandaue City fire victims, who number 11,000.
Aside from the tents, the evacuation center and the portalets, the province had not used much of its resources to help the fire victims leaving it to Mandaue City officials and the private sector to do the job for them.
Despite being a progressive city, Mandaue City’s charter allows the province some semblance of jurisdiction over them which means that any calamity that befalls the city makes it the Capitol’s responsibility to help their residents, who are also the province’s constituents.
With nowhere to go but the CICC grounds, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III has little choice other than to play host to the thousands of displaced families who need food, water, medicines, beddings and clothes while the Mandaue City government takes a month to re-block their fire site.
The CICC had been converted into an evacuation center of sorts but the families aren’t allowed to stay inside since the structure is said to be falling apart—i.e. some parts of the roofing may fall anytime without warning—and the Capitol, despite the governor saying he won’t do anything about it, isn’t about to allow families inside perhaps out of fear that some items may go missing or they would leave the place worse than what it is right now.
They could have done more along with the Mandaue City government. At least the governor showed up and met with the families. What about Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes? It doesn’t hurt for him to visit the families since he is the father of the city at least until he gets elected to Congress.
And while Rep. Luigi Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district stayed and provided food long enough for a photo op, it’s to be expected that his rival for the city’s mayoral post, Councilor Lolypop Ouano-Dizon would visit the CICC grounds to donate the goods and make her presence felt long enough for the families to remember her come Election Day.
The private sector was called upon by the governor to do their share and help the Mandaue City fire victims but it’s not as if the province and Mandaue City Hall are helpless and devoid of resources to help their constituents.
Businesses, the non-government organizations and the Church will do their share but it is the local government, both city and province that should take the lead in helping these families.
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