Paknaan fire victims allowed to rebuild houses by lot owners

INFORMAL settlers in Kamanse, barangay Paknaan in Mandaue City, whose houses were razed by fire last month can now reconstruct their houses in the same area.

Paknaan barangay Captain Malaquias Soco said he recently met with  lot owners, James Lee, Bonifacio Cabahug, Richard Ng and Elma Sanchez who gave their consent for the fire victims to go back.

However, the lot owners asked the house owners to religiously pay their respective lot rentals.

The barangay captain said he is now negotiating with other lot owners for the widening of the access road from the highway to the area which is also equally important.

When fire broke out in the area last May 23, fire trucks were unable to enter because of the narrow access road. A total of 239 houses were razed affecting 371 house owners and 32 renters.

The city government is now processing the financial aid of P10,000 for house owners and P5,000 for renters.

Several civic groups, individuals, institutions have given relief goods to the victims. /Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza