Cebu City Council Places Fire-hit Village Under State of Calamity

The Cebu City Council has passed a resolution declaring the fire-stricken sitios in Barangay Mambaling, this city, under a state of calamity following the blaze Tuesday that left more than 500 individuals homeless.

Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo, author of the resolution, said Sitios Abbya and Puntod will be covered by the declaration, which allows the city to use its calamity fund to help the affected families.

The Barangay Council of Mambaling also declared a state of calamity, which allows them to use a portion of their 2015 calamity fund.

The city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) showed that a total of 150 families or 571 individuals were affected by the fire.

The DSWS is set to distribute financial assistance to the affected families, including housing materials to help them re-build their houses again.

The city government will implement a re-blocking in the area to establish bigger roads as access for emergency vehicles.

The council has also requested the fire department to find out the cause of the fire and those who may be held liable for the incident.

Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who heads the city’s Task Force Butane, said he requested the fire department to verify reports that a butane canister caused the fire and asked them to submit to his office a copy of the result of the investigation. (PNA) CTB/EB/RSM