Fire destroyed 20 houses leaving 50 residents homeless in Purok Tahong, Barangay 2 in Bacolod City, at about 2:14 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19, a week before Christmas.
The fire quickly spread because the houses were made of light materials, Fire Officer 2 Rolin Paulan, chief investigator of the Bacolod City Fire Station, said.
There were 20 families affected with 50 members, Richelle H. Verdeprado, Bacolod Department of Social Services and Development head, said.
There were 20 houses destroyed, not 26 as initially reported by the Bacolod Fire Station, the Bacolod City Communications Office (BCCO) clarified.
The fire started at the house of Marcelino Pitogo rented by a certain Gerald Nessia.
The fire damage was estimated by the Bacolod Fire Station at P125,000.
Residents suspect that the fire started from a candle because there was no electricity in the house where the fire started.
However, the Bacolod Fire Station is still determining the cause of the fire, Paulan said.
Bacolod Mayor Greg visited the scene of the fire and directed the release of immediate assistance to the victims.
The city government distributed food packs and hygiene kits on-site to address immediate needs, with additional supplies to follow from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) after assessment, the BCCO said.
The city government deployed social workers to conduct a comprehensive census and enroll all affected individuals for further financial and social assistance.
Displaced families have been moved to a designated evacuation center at the Barangay Hall, where the city will monitor their health and well-being for at least five days until they secure alternative housing.
“Our priority is to make sure that no one is left behind after such a traumatic event,” Gasataya said.
“They are allowed to go back here in the area if they wish to still live here, but personally seeing their situation, living beside the creek, it is very dangerous,” Gasataya said during his visit to the scene of the fire.
The mayor said he was in contact with the Bacolod Housing Authority to check if there are still slots left in the relocation site for those who want to transfer.
“These are the very same people who were badly affected by the recent typhoons”, he pointed out.*