Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called for the swift implementation of the government's housing program to help address congestion in urban areas, as he noted that fire incidents usually affect heavily populated areas.

Gatchalian made the call as he donated sacks of rice to three separate areas in Manila and Parañaque that were recently struck by fire. He provided a total of P537,500 worth of rice to the fire victims.

According to the senator, urban areas usually attract labor workers searching for jobs, leading to house densification, particularly in poor communities. In the process, the congestion of houses in such communities increases the risk of fire incidents.

Recipients of food relief provided by Gatchalian include residents of Barangay 598 in Sta. Mesa, Manila where a fire broke out last Feb. 21, and destroyed around 100 houses. Some 300 families were displaced.

A total of 165 sacks of rice, worth P206,250 were donated by Gatchalian.

Victims of a separate blaze in Barangay 301 in Sampaloc, Manila that took place last Jan. 31 also received from Gatchalian 100 sacks of rice, worth P125,000.

He also provided 165 sacks of rice, worth P206,250, to victims of a fire in Barangay San Isidro in Paranaque City last Feb. 27. According to news reports, about 300 families were displaced due to the incident.

“Madalas nang nangyayari ang sunog sa mga lugar kung saan maraming nakatira at dikit-dikit ang mga bahay. Upang mapababa ang panganib na maraming madamay sa sunog, mahalagang maisakatuparan ng pamahalaan ang epektibong programa ng pabahay para sa mga residente ng ganitong lugar (Fire incidents usually occur in places where there are a lot of reisdents and houses are close to each other. To minimize the risk of being involved in fires, it's important that the government implement its effective housing program for its residents in these areas),” Gatchalian emphasized.

President Marcos had earlier committed to providing a safe, quality, and comfortable housing program in the country.

According to Gatchalian, unsuitable structural design and unsafe practices involving electricity make such areas highly prone to fire incidents. Also, limited access by firefighters usually hampers efforts in putting out fires, he said.