Guizo, Mantuyong fire victims receive cash aid from gov’t

AT LEAST 2,000 families, who lost their homes to the March 12 fire in Barangays Guizo and Mantuyong in Mandaue City, received yesterday financial assistance from the city government.

The distribution of the cash assistance at the Norkis Park were done in two parts — 1,017 families from Barangay Guizo got their cash last Wednesday while 1,205 families from Barangay Mantuyong got their cash yesterday.

House owners received P10,000 each while sharers and renters got P5,000 each. The city government allotted P18.9 million for the 2,222 families.

Mercy Labrador, 37, a house owner with three kids, said she was thankful for the P10,000 aid which they will use to rebuild their house.

“Ipalit ni namo og housing materials. Ganahan name makasugod kay pait kayo mi og kahimtang sa CICC (Cebu International Convention Center).

Akong mga anak magkasakit-sakit (We will buy housing materials. We really like to build our house immediately. It is so hard to live at CICC. My kids easily get sick there),” said Labrador, whose husband is a painter.

Jessann Caballes, a house renter, said in Cebuano that they will just look for another house to rent since they are only allowed to stay at the CICC until May 12.

Meanwhile, Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MCDRRMO) head Felix Suico said that supply of asphalt and bags of cement are now available to be used to repair the roads in the fire site.

He said these were donated by PLD Contractor and PB Obial Contractor.