Iloilo City vows swift aid for fire victims

Based on the validation conducted by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), 68 houses were totally damaged and four were partially damaged. (Pixabay photo)

ILOILO CITY— The city government assured immediate financial aid for owners of around 100 houses that were razed by two separate fire incidents over the weekend.

On Monday, Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III ordered city administrator Hernando Galvez to expedite the release of PHP5,000 each for owners of totally damaged houses and PHP2,500 for partially damaged houses, noting that these must be released not later than Wednesday.

The Saturday afternoon incident at Sitio Langka, Barangay Benedicto in Jaro town affected 105 families staying in 72 houses. Based on the validation conducted by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), 68 houses were totally damaged and four were partially damaged.

Fire started around 4 p.m. and involved a cluster of residential structures mostly made of mixed materials under corrugated galvanized iron roofing, according to the report of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

The BFP estimated the total damage at more or less PHP4 million.

Meantime, another fire gutted 10 houses at Dela Rama compound in Barangay Zamora Melliza around 10:51 p.m. Sunday. The BFP is still investigating the cause of fire that totally damaged five houses and partially damaged five others.

In an interview, Galvez said that they will “try their best” to comply with the instruction of the mayor. In the past, financial assistance was released after one to two months due to documentary requirements.

Galvez said that as early as Sunday, they already completed the documents for fire victims in Barangay Benedicto and they are just waiting for the preparation of the payroll.

The documents were almost finished as of 3 a.m. Monday for victims in Barangay Zamora.

“We instructed them to prepare the payroll to avoid further delay.

We look forward to give them tomorrow but surely not later than Wednesday,” Galvez said.

The funds will be sourced from the city’s assistance to persons in need account.

Barangay Benedicto declared a state of calamity Sunday evening, a move which will allow them to use their calamity fund.