JASON Laborte, his parents and 14 siblings face an uncertain future after a fire ate up everything they owned in siito Tugas, barangay Mambaling last Friday afternoon.
He and his family were among those staying at the Mambaling National High School (Night) located along N. Bacalso Avenue, Mambaling, Cebu City.
“Sana bigyan kami ng items para makapagtayo ng bahay ulit (I hope they give us items to build a new house again),” said the 19-year-old Laborte, who’s enrolled as a Grade 5 student at the Alternative Learning School (ALS) in Cebu City.
He said his father Gerardo Laborte, a former jeepney driver and Dolorosa, a vendor, can barely provide for their schooling.
Laborte said they lived in a two-floor, two bedroom house for more than a year after their previous home on the other side of the barangay was demolished years ago.
DSWS staffer Portia C. Basmayor said the Laborte Family is staying at Room 2 with seven families who sleep on the floor using cardboard boxes or chairs in the room.
“Nagsabi na dun na dapat linisin namin ang paaralan kasi pinapalayas na kami. Gagamitin na daw kasi ng mga nag-eskwela (We were told that we should clean the room because we will be driven out. The rooms will be used by the students),” Laborte said.
Ester Concha, head of the Cebu City Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) said the families may stay for a maximum of two weeks depending on the school officials.
She said the DSWS will also give financial assistance to lodgers affected by the fire.
Concha said they would have to be validated first before receiving the aid.
Imelda Binobo, Mambaling Elementary School principal, said they may adopt double shifts to adjust to the situation.
“Regular classes from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be moved to 6 a.m. to noon and night classes will be adjusted to noon to 6 pm,” Binobo said.
Binobo said they plan to make cubicles in the school´s covered court to serve as temporary classrooms.
Mambaling Night High School acting principal Grace Manlosa said the students affected by the fire need not wear uniforms tomorrow./UP Cebu Intern Mary Claire U. Catado
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