CEBU CITY – Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian visited the area in Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City where at least 500 houses were razed by a fire on December 12.
Gatchalian inspected Ground Zero in Sitio Santa Maria on Thursday morning, December 21, and distributed sacks of rice to the more than 1,500 families displaced by the fire.
SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian (third from left) distributes sacks of rice to fire victims in Sitio Santa Maria, Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday, December 21. (Calvin D. Cordova)
He also checked the condition of fire victims sheltered under the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.
“We brought some food because it's important that they will have something to eat for the next few weeks,” said Gatchalian who was accompanied by Lapu-Lapu Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan and Lapu-Lapu Rep. Cindy Chan during the inspection.
Gatchalian said his office will work closely with the city government for the possibility of giving financial assistance to the fire victims.
A long-term assistance will also be given to the fire victims, Gatchalian said.
“The long-term plan is how to give them decent houses. Most people here are just living temporarily. They want to have their own houses. So, we will find ways on how we can give them a place where it is safe to live,” Gatchalian said.
Chan said that the razed houses stood on a privately owned lot.
The displaced families will be allowed to rebuild their homes but only after a re-blocking is made.
“They can go back on a condition that we will do re-blocking. Because as we can see, the roads here are narrow. It was agreed that there should be a re-blocking and we will make a three-meter road so that firefighters can maneuver easily if there are incidents like this,” the mayor said.