ILOILO City – The city government released yesterday an initial financial assistance to 300 families displaced by the Jan. 28 fire in barangays West Habog-Habog and San Juan in Molo district.
Mayor Jerry Treñas led the distribution – P5,000 for each family whose houses were totally damaged and P2,000 for those whose houses were partially damaged, and for sharers and renters.
According to Iloilo City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Teresa L. Gelogo, there will be additional assistance of P5,000 to be released this Thursday or Friday.
Those with totally damaged houses and partially damaged houses / sharers / renters would get a total of P10,000 and P7,000, respectively, from the city government.
Also present during the distribution of the financial assistance were executive assistants for social services Rosario San Agustin and Evelyn Olano, and CSWDO-Molo District Unit Office personnel.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6, upon the request of the offices of senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Imee Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, earlier distributed a total of P15,000 cash to each affected family as assistance for individuals in crisis situation and food assistance.
Until Feb. 10 at evacuation centers
Meanwhile, Gelogo said the families are urged to rebuild their temporary houses at the fire site so they can already vacate Baluarte Elementary School and San Juan Elementary School as their evacuation centers.
She told Panay News that evacuees have until Feb. 10 only to stay in the classrooms because the schools needed it already.
“Gina-urge naton sila nga maka-obra na sang emergency temporary shelter para nga may tiniran sila,” said Gelogo.
Treñas said the city government through the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO) has prepared an action plan to guide them.
“Ang ila sundon, may mga dalan kita nga obrahon kag ila nga obrahon nga balay temporary lang anay,” said Treñas.
To note, 37 classrooms in Baluarte Elementary School and 15 in San Juan Elementary School are being occupied by the fire victims. Some of them are staying with their relatives.
The students of the said schools are currently on modular/distant learning so as not to hamper their studies./PN
