Kentex victims to receive P151,200 settlement

Slipper factory in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City is engulfed by a thick smoke from the fire. (Photo courtesy of Valenzuela City Twitter account)

MANILA — Kentex Manufacturing Corp. will be giving P151,200 in settlement fees to at least 57 victims of the fire in the slipper factory in Valenzuela last May 13.

The families and representatives of the fire victims have agreed in the settlement package, according to Lawyer Renato Paraiso, representative of the Kentex management.

The package will include P100,000 in death benefits, P30,000 cash for the identification of the remains of the victims, P10,000 burial assistance, P6,200 for funeral services, and P5,000 travel assistance.

Paraiso said that while other families are asking for P4 million, at least 10 families have already agreed with the settlement package they are offering.

Some of them are even willing to settle within the week, according to the lawyer.

He added that the package applies to all the victims regardless of their employment status but remained silent on whether the same package will apply to the injured contractual employees.

He, however, noted that the company will also shoulder the medical employees of injured regular employees and will also be given separation pay.