Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan asked the 2,000 families who have been displaced by a huge fire that hit residential areas in Isla Puting Bato and Sampaloc over the weekend to fully cooperate with the city's social workers in order to quickly enlist the fire victims who will receive assistance from the city government.
In her message during her visit at the evacuation center, she asked for the residents' patience and understanding about the processes due to the high number of victims.
She said the city would not want to leave anyone behind, as she assured them that they will be able to get all the help possible from the city government.
"Pakiusap ko po, 'wag po sana nating aawayin ang mga social workers dahil gusto po nating maisaayos ang lahat nang maibigay po kaagad sa inyo ang tulong para kahit paano ay makapag-umpisa na kayong muli. Wala pong may gusto ng nangyari at kami po ay narito para kayo ay damayan. Magpa-Pasko pa naman, ang gusto po namin ay makabalik na kayo kaagad sa inyong mga tirahan (Please, do not fight with the social workers because we want to fix everything and give you help right away so that you can start over. No one likes what happened and we are here to sympathize with you. As for Christmas, what we want is for you to return to your homes immediately)," she said, as she assured the residents that help will come as soon as the listing is done.
The mayor was accompanied in the visit by Manila Vice Mayor John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto, Social Welfare Department Chief Re Fugoso, and other officials.
They also offered another evacuation site at P. Guevarra for those who want bigger space.
The mayor had immediately mobilized all concerned city government units for the provision of temporary shelter, meals and basic necessities for those who were expected to be displaced by the incident.
As of this writing, Fugoso said that the total number of families who have registered as having been left homeless by the fire already reached 1,823.
Fugoso added that based on reports forwarded to her office, the affected barangays in Sampaloc fire that also occurred on Nov. 24. were Barangays 489 and 490 which was caused by faulty electrical wiring with 24 families affected while the listing of displaced families in Balut, Tondo is still ongoing.