Mandaue fire chief recommends reblocking of 20 fire-prone sitios

AT least 20 sitios (sub-villages) in Mandaue City will need to be re-blocked since these are densely populated and can be inaccessible to firefighters in the event of a fire, the operations head of the Mandaue City Fire Department (MCFD) said.

MCFD chief of operations SF04 Roy Garcia said these sitios have no proper road networks and residents could suffer just like those in Barangays Guizo and Mantuyong, where thousands of structures were razed by fire when it hit the area last March 12.

It took at least four hours for firefighters to put out the March 12 fire largely due to the absence of access roads for fire trucks to get inside the two densely populated villages. The fire displaced over 11,000 persons from 2,100 families.

Garcia identified the highly congested sitios as Aroma in Subangdaku; Sta. Cruz and La Purisima in Guizo; Zones 3, 4 and 7 in Mantuyong; Kapusuan in Cambaro; Paradise and Bohol-bohol in Looc; Ilang-ilang and Grancena in Opao; Kalubihan, Kamanggahan and Lemonsito in Umapad; Pulang Bukid in Alang-alang; Zones Sili and Camansi in Paknaan; Lapyahan in Labogon; Alliance of Two Hearts in Basak; and San Vicente Ferrer in Tabok.
Sitio Alliance of Two Hearts in Barangay Basak was hit by fire last February, displacing about a hundred families.

“It’s very difficult to get into these areas. There is one sitio that has a very narrow road and it’s the only access to the area since it is bounded by a river on the other side,” he said.

Garcia said these areas do not only need reblocking but should also have a standpipe system connected to a water supply. Sprinkles can be attached to the standpipes, which in turn could be opened in case of a fire and while still waiting for the arrival of fire trucks, he said.

Garcia said the concerned barangay governments should allocate funds to install this kind of system in densely populated areas in their respective jurisdictions.

Garcia said that out of 27 barangays in the city, only Barangay Ibabao-Estancia has a standpipe system.

Every barangay should also have at least 20 fire extinguishers, he added.

He said the public should also be encouraged by their barangay officials to attend fire safety seminars that are regularly conducted by the Bureau of Fire Prevention.

Mandaue City Administrator James Abadia, when reached for comment, said the MCFD should put its recommendations in writing so that it could be endorsed to the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council for approval and funding.

“The city is always open to these kind of ideas,” he said.