Jagobiao fire victims to be moved from school to Eversly gym

VICTIMS of the fire that hit sitio San Lorenzo, barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City, have until Sunday to stay at the Jagobiao National High School.

Barangay captain Maria Edita Montesa said the victims will be transferred to the vacant cottages and gymnasium of Eversly Child Sanitarium. The head of the facility will allow them to stay for a month.

Montesa said the victims have to move out of the school as the Department of Education in Central Viasayas will inspect the site on Monday and the school will also hold its third periodic exam on Thursday.

Montesa said they are still looking for a relocation site for the affected families. She explained that most of them are considered informal settlers because ownership of the lot where their homes used to stand is a subject of a legal battle between Eversley Child Sanitarium and YY Company.

She will allow them to build shanties while the case is pending in court. But only those who are residents of the area can rebuild their homes. They have to secure the proper clearances from the barangay before they can start their construction.

Montesa also said she is coordinating with Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes to relocate some of the homeowners and renters. They are looking at barangay Pakna-an.

The fire victims are appealing to the public to donate kitchen utensils, water and food.

The office of Rep. Luigi Quisumbing and Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia have sent relief goods.

Doctors and nurses were also sent by the Mandaue city government to provide medical care and free medicine./Correspondent FE MARIE DUMABOC WITH CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA