Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Albee Benitez on Friday, Sept. 4, personally provided financial assistance to 23 families whose houses were destroyed by fire in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City.
The fire hit their houses in Purok San Jose 2, which the Bureau of Fire Protection classified as a red zone, or a congested area difficult for firefighters to enter, on Sept. 1.
Benitez distributed P5,000 from his personal funds and food packs to each family.
He said the fire victims are also expected to receive additional assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Benitez said that because the area where the fire victims lived is often flooded, he wants to find another place for them to be relocated to in the barangay.
If the fire victims insist on returning to where their houses were located, they will have to talk to the owner of the property.
“We are looking at different options that would be good for them, but they will have to decide what they want to do,” Benitez said.
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