• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Twenty-six houses were totally burned in a residential fire that broke out at Purok Tahong, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental at around 2:14 a.m. on Thursday, leaving 50 individuals homeless.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Arson Investigator FO2 Rolin Paulan reported the fire originated from a rental property owned by Marcelino Pitogo.
Initial findings suggest a candle may have been the cause, due to a lack of electricity at the point of origin, though investigators are also looking into faulty electrical wiring in the surrounding area as a possible factor.
The estimated value of the damage of the fire reached P125,000 as the houses were mostly made of light materials, BFP report said. Thirty-nine firefighters responded to the incident.
In response, Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has personally assessed the situation of the residents. The City Government also distributed food packs and hygiene kits on-site to address immediate needs, with additional supplies to follow from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) after assessment.
The DSWD also deployed social workers to conduct a comprehensive census and enroll all affected individuals for further financial and social assistance. Displaced families have been moved to a designated evacuation center at the Barangay Hall, where the city will monitor their health and well-being for at least five days until they secure alternative housing.
“Our priority is to make sure that no one is left behind after such a traumatic event,” Gasataya stated during his visit.
“They are allowed to go back here in the area if they wish to still live here, but personally seeing their situation, living beside the creek, is very dangerous. That’s why I am already in contact with the Bacolod Housing Authority to check if there are still slots left in the relocation site for those who want to transfer. Because these are the very same people who were badly affected by the recent typhoons,” the mayor added.
BFP said that no casualties or injuries were reported.*
