Duterte promises house and lot packages to Zamboanga fire victims

ZAMBOANGA CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte has promised to give a house and lot for each of the 400 families who lost their homes in a fire here in Barangay Labuan on July 22.

In a speech, Duterte said the house design would be similar to the housing unit built for evacuees in Marawi City.

He directed housing czar retired General Eduardo del Rosario to assess the situation.

Duterte said, however, that the promise would not be granted yet, but the financial assistance worth P7,500 will already be released to the fire victims.

“Bigyan nyo ako konting panahon, one year, may pera ang gobyerno, gastusin natin yan (Give me some time – a year, the government will have money then, we will spend it),” Duterte said.

The President has ordered the release of an additional P7,500 to the fire victims, which is on top of the P7,500 released by Department of Social Welfare and Development Office, the P1,500 from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and P1,000 from a small town lottery of the PCSO.

He also told the fire victims not to worry about food and other needs while they are waiting for the house and lot that the government promised. /ee