BY JEN BAYLON
BACOLOD City – More than P750,000 worth of damage was inflicted by a fire that engulfed 10 houses in Barangay 5, Victorias City, Negros Occidental at approximately 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19.
Nine of the houses were totally damaged, and one was partially damaged.
According to Fire Officer 1 Dave Kevin Duaban, arson investigator of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Victorias City, the affected properties spanned an area of 500 square meters.
The BFP is still investigating the cause of the blaze, although an initial probe indicates that it allegedly started at the vulcanizing shop of Reynaldo Benigaya.
Meanwhile, Barangay Captain Romulo Undar reassured that the city government is looking into providing relocation assistance to the 13 families affected, who were reportedly squatting on the aforementioned land.
Currently, the affected families are temporarily staying at the barangay’s covered court, where provisions and essentials are being distributed./PN
