An overheated electric fan triggered the fire that hit 32 houses at Purok Ramon Magsaysay Dawis in Brgy. 14, Bacolod City, Bacolod Fire Marshal Jenny Mae Masip said on on Wednesday, April 22.
The fire on Tuesday afternoon started from the second floor of the house of Regie Doronila, she said. Masip described the neighborhood as a “red zone,” where the proximity of the structures allowed flames to spread rapidly.
She also said that the emergency response was significantly hampered by a lack of access roads, which prevented firetrucks from reaching the immediate vicinity of the fire.
Dr. Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga, Bacolod Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) head, said validated figures on Wednesday showed that 71 families with 289 members were displaced by the fire.
Mayor Greg Gasataya led the distribution of relief goods and deployed essential services through a coordinated effort with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) and the DSSD.
To ensure a steady supply of clean water, the mayor also deployed the city’s first water filtration truck, which has a 5,000-liter capacity and can provide potable water to at least 250 containers.
Gasataya assured the victims that financial assistance will be provided based on the extent of damage to their properties.
“Those whose homes were totally damaged will receive ₱15,000. Those partially damaged will receive ₱10,000, while renters and sharers will receive ₱5,000,” the mayor said.
He added that the city is working to expedite the process.
“As long as you comply quickly with the required documents, we will do our best to release the aid, hopefully by early next week,” he said.
The Bureau of Fire Protection said 22 houses were destroyed and 10 were damaged – with estimated property losses reaching ₱4.5 million.*
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