Gwen, Tom pledge aid to Tejero fire victims

The plight of 212 fire victims in barangay Tejero, Cebu City, drew assistance from political rivals Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district yesterday.

Osmeña committed to give sacks of rice even if Tejero is in the city’s northern district while Garcia allocated 200 sacks of rice to the victims.

One such recipient is 63-year-old William Gutierrez, whose house was eaten up the fire in Tejero.

Gutierrez said he and his wife will pray at the Sto. Niño Church tomorrow for a home of their own.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) Office allocated the sacks of rice at barangay Tejero Sports Complex.

The 211 families each received a sack of rice, a set of kitchenware, mats, blankets and mosquito nets. The province allocated P428,741 in relief assistance to the families.

Tejero barangay captain Jessielou Cadungog said the fire victims need medicine, food and relief materials.

Packed meals rationed by the city government ran out after lunchtime yesterday.

The barangay council declared sitios Luoban, Back Blessed Sacrament and Inahan sa Kanunayng Panabang as calamity areas and appropriated P111,130 for relief and housing materials for the families.

Most of the families were housed in the Tejero Sports Center while the others set up makeshift tents near their burnt shanties.

At least 10 persons sustained burns and cuts while they tried to save their valuables from the fire.

Mayor Rama said the donations by Osmeña and Garcia showed that helping the poor crosses political lines. Correspondents Carmel Loise Matus and Edison delos Angeles