CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Families affected by a fire in Barangay Nazareth here on February 15 have appealed for financial aid or construction materials to enable them to rebuild their houses.
FAMILIES affected by a fire in Barangay Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City temporarily stay in tents at the barangay gymnasium. (Franck Dick Rosete)
They thanked donors for the immediate assistance they received and called on the government and private entities to help them with their appeal as most of them do not have the financial capability to construct new houses.
“We do not have problems with our food so far since we are supported by the government. Our only appeal now is that maybe they can help us rebuild our houses that were caught by fire,” Jonaly Bel Kaamiño, an affected resident, said on Saturday, February 17.
Kaamiño’s house was among those totally damaged and her family was unable to save anything as they prioritized their safety.
Jonaly was teary-eyed narrating the fire where all their investments vanished. They were heartbroken as they were unable to save their two dogs tied inside their house.
“They were the ones that guarded us,” she said. “They were already part of my family.”
CAGAYAN de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (right) visits fire victims on February 17 to provide assistance. (Franck Dick Rosete)
Fire Senior Insp. Kyle Bryan Lauzon, operations division chief of the Cagayan de Oro Fire District, said they received the fire call at 1:40 p.m. The reached the fourth alarm 11 minutes later due to strong wind and challenging access points. Damage to property was placed at P4.3 million and 45 houses were destroyed.
The fire was under control at 2:14 p.m. and fire out declared at 3:01 p.m. One-hundred fifteen families or 407 persons were affected by the fire.
Barangay Captain Regine Rodriguez said the barangay council passed a resolution placing the barangay under state of calamity for the immediate provision of assistance.
Rodriguez said that they have utilized their quick response fund for the food of affected individuals staying at the Barangay Nazareth Gymnasium.
She said the barangay council have yet to come up with the amount of financial assistance for the fire victims. But light materials have been donated by her friends for house construction.
“These materials are already at the back of the barangay hall, ready for distribution once the area is cleared,” Rodriguez said, adding that she has coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the National Housing Authority, and the Department of Labor and Employment for financial aid.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Regine’s father who visited the evacuation center on Saturday, said that his family will purchase construction materials for affected residents.
FIRE victim Aurora Gilig, 65, narrates her ordeal during the fire. (Franck Dick Rosete)
A sexagenarian resident was heartbroken when she saw the fire all over her house which was renovated four months ago.
“I don’t need a huge amount of money as long as I can build a new house,” Aurora Gilig, 65, a “penoy” (infertile incubated duck egg) vendor, said.
STAFF of Cagayan de Oro City Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez list students staying in the evacuation center for educational and financial assistance on February 17. (Franck Dick Rosete)
Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez visited evacuees on Saturday and directed her staff to list the names of all students staying in the evacuation center as she distributed educational materials for elementary and high school students and P1,000 financial aid for senior high and college students.
Good Samaritans also visited the evacuation center and personally handed over donations.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office has provided assistance. Regine is still awaiting additional help from the city government.