BACOLOD City – An estimated P1.8 million worth of property was damaged and about 117 individuals from around 39 families in Purok Paghidaet, Barangay 29 were displaced after another fire incident in this city.
The blaze broke out at around 5:07 p.m. on Dec. 26. The firefight that reached “3rd alarm” status lasted for over 40 minutes.
Based on the initial records, seven houses were completely gutted, while six received extensive damage.
Disability Affairs Officer Alma Gustilo, officer-in-charge of the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), said the victims were temporarily staying at Apolinario Mabini Elementary School.
Food packs and non-food items were already provided for, she added.
Gustilo said they are still determining the total number of families affected and assessing how much aid they will each receive.
The city government provides P15,000 to families with destroyed houses, P10,000 for damaged houses, and P5,000 for sharers or renters.
Aside from DSSD, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Department of Social Welfare and Development also distributed aid.
Arson investigators determined that the blaze originated from the house owned by a certain Marites Logronio, and was likely electrical in nature. (With a report from Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
