About 2,000 families who lost their homes due to the fire that razed 12 tenement buildings on September 14 and 15 along Road 10, Tondo, Manila, appealed for any kind of donations.
Read here: https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/14/fire-hits-houses-in-tondo-6
Some of the affected families were unable to save any of their belongings as the fire quickly spread throughout their buildings.
Elmer, one of the fire victims in Tenement Building 28, said he did not expect the fire to spread so quickly.
"Natataranta na, nagtatakbuhan na po lahat kaya kahit gusto po namin balikan [mga gamit namin] hindi na po sa dami ng tao na gusto lumabas (We're panicking, everyone was running, even if we want to get [our belongings] it's not possible because of the number of people who want to go out)," he said.
Elmer is staying at the evacuation site in Barangay 105 with his two daughters age 9 and 17.
He said he has not informed his wife who is an OFW about their situation because he does not want her to worry.
He said they will leave the evacuation site this week to go to Romblon and stay with this relatives.
"Hindi pa rin po makapaniwala sa bilis po pangyayari (Still can't believe how fast it happened)," he added.
Several nongovernment organizations and youth groups have initiated donations drives for the victims.
According to the officials of Barangays 105 and 106, various social sectors have arrived at the evacuation sites to distribute basic needs.
"Nanawagan po kami sa mga ahensya ng gobyeno na huwag kami pabayaan. Kailangan po namin kayo (We call on the government agencies not to let us down. We need you)," Elmer said.
Based on the report of the local government, aside from the evacuations sites in Barangay 105 and 106, some officials of nearby barangays also offered their facilities to accommodate affected families.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and Vice Mayor John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto also spent the night at the evacuation centers on September 14 to check on the situation and assess the kind of help that would be needed.
They also went with members of the City Social Welfare Department and Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), early morning of September 15 to continue assessing the victims.
The affected families were asked to fill out "family disaster cards" for registration, record and assessment.
"The mayor directed all concerned local government units to provide all necessary and possible assistance that the city could provide for the victims, even as Nieto also mobilized his Lingkod-Bayan program," the city government said.
CSWD said the mayor had already ordered the processing of the P10,000 cash aid for each affected family.