Tipolo fire update: Barangay Council to declare State of Calamity

The long line of fire victims in Barangay Tipolo waiting to list their names with the City Social Welfare Services of Mandaue City. CDN Digital photo | Benjie Talisic

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu— The barangay council of Tipolo, Mandaue City will convene in an emergency session this morning, June 27, 2019, to declare a state of calamity following the dawn fire that razed three sitios here.

Tipolo Barangay Captain Romana Cuizon said they have  P335,000 from their quick response fund, which they can use to aid the fire victims.

Read more: Fire razes houses in Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City

Cuizon also appealed for donations for the fire victims. Those interested to give donations can go to the Tipolo Barangay Hall.

Based on barangay records, at least 500 structures stand in the three sitios affected by the fire, while at least 1,000 families occupy the razed houses.

The City Social Welfare Services (CSWS) Office of Mandaue City has recommended the evacuation site for the fire victims to be at Tipolo Elementary School. However, most of the fire victims remained at the roadside across the fire site as they did not want to leave their burned houses.

Read more: Gallery: Fire in Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City

Jessie Perez, CSWS chief, said owners of totally burned houses will receive P10,000 cash assistance from the city.

Those whose houses are partially burned as wells as the renters and sharers will also be given P5,000.

Hot meals were already served by the CSWS office to the fire victims on Thursday morning. 

Meanwhile, fire officials are still verifying reports of two fatalities from the dawn fire.

The fire alarm was received at 1:18 a.m and was raised to Task Force Alpha at 1:44 a.m. It was further raised to Task Force Bravo at 2:51 a.m.

Mandaue City Fire Department declared the fire under control at 5:25 a.m. and fire out at 9:12 a.m.

As of 9:30 a.m., CSWS already listed 170 families affected by the fire. /bmjo