Rama: Fire should not be used to evict urban poor

STRESSING that fires should not be used as a reason to drive away urban poor dwellers from contested private lands, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama asked barangay Quiot fire victims to rebuild their homes from the ashes.

“I’ve said this before. And I will say it again. I will never agree to any private land owner to prevent victims of fire from rebuilding their homes,” Rama  said.

In a press conference yesterday afternoon he said he will make sure that fire victims will be able to rebuild their homes in barangay Quiot.

“Fire should not be a reason to further oppress and prejudice the occupants,” he added, as he ordered concerned City Hall departments to facilitate the release of assistance to the fire victims.

Housing materials from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council were provided to assist the victims in rebuilding their homes.

An additional cash assistance of P10,000 will follow after the Department of Social Welfare Services is done documenting the fire victims.

Aside from building materials and cash assistance,  City Hall also distributed three days worth of food assistance to the fire victims.

About 120 families lost their homes in that fire.

Residents expressed concerns after Friday’s fire as it may have something to do with a land dispute in the area. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters