• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) will be providing financial assistance to the fire survivors in Barangay 27, Bacolod City.
According to Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) head Dr. Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga, the DHSUD will give P30,000 to each family affected by the fire.
Meanwhile, the city government will also provide P15,000 for families with totally damaged property, P10,000 for partial damage, and P5,000 for renters and sharers.
“The process is that they [affected residents] will list their names, provide their circumstances, and the DSSD will validate in coordination with the barangay,” Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya said.
The city government is currently assisting the survivors in processing their National ID to avail of the assistance.
The data indicates that 145 of the affected families were homeowners, 105 were sharers, and 44 were renters.
The fire impacted 1,000 individuals, consisting of 499 males and 501 females, while a total of 295 families were affected.
Last Tuesday, Gasataya met with Eva Maria Marfil, Western Visayas Regional Director of the DHSUD, for a potential partnership on housing.
He presented a housing development plan that includes proper road networks and a drainage system, as well as a comprehensive plan for the safety of the residents, with an initial phase that involves clearing of the damaged property.
The mayor added that there is also a plan of putting security in the area, providing livelihood training, activities for children, and assisting the mental health of the survivors.
CLEARING OPERATIONS
Clearing operations at the site of the fire in Barangay 27, officially begins today, Sept. 19.
Last Tuesday, Mayor Greg Gasataya held a consultation with the survivors at the Bacolod City Government Center, where he ensured their safety as a priority by clearing the debris left after the fire.
City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo stated that the City Mayor’s Office, City Engineer’s Office, and the Bureau of Fire Protection, along with other agencies, conducted a joint inspection of the area last Wednesday.
Based on the assessment, the structural integrity of concrete walls becomes questionable after being exposed to a fire for almost 3 hours.
Thirty percent of the victims have already begun rebuilding their homes, but authorities have decided not to allow the use of light materials.
Adjustments will also be made to the size of the victims’ properties.
There is a push to establish a 3-meter wide main road, which is much wider than the previous footwalks that existed before the fire.
In addition, several homeowners have given clearance for the creation of an 8-meter entry point for heavy equipment needed for clearing.*
