NEWS BRIEFS

FIRE GUTS DPWH OFFICE

Fire gutted the office of the Department of Public Works and Highways in McArthur Avenue, barangay Tinago, Cebu City past 6 p.m. last night.

One fireman, FO2 Danny Relatado, was injured by debris that fell on his right arm.

The fire started in the second floor of the two-storey building of the DPWH 5th engineering district, said fire investigator Lowel Opolentisima.

It was placed under control after 10 minutes.

A damage report was not yet available.

Ariel Flores, guard of the DPWH, said he switched off all the lights past 6 p.m. then noticed smoke coming out of the upper floor./Correspondent Chito O. Aragon

WHERE WERE TOURIST POLICE ?

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama asked tourist police to explain where they were when a man set himself on fire inside the Magellan’s Cross kiosk on Thursday morning.

It took security guard from City hall to put out the flames on the 77-year-old man using a fire extinguisher.

Rama said he gave clear instructions before for tourist police who occupy an outpost near Plaza Sugbu to patrol the area which is a popular tourist spot.

Rama instructed city administrator Jose Marie Poblete to make sure the victim can benefit from the city’s medical assistance program CHAMP./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

BRGY COUNCILS TO MAKE POPULATION DATABASE

The Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in Cebu City plans to create a database of residents in the city’s 80 barangays to be used during disasters and emergencies.

A P5 million financial assistance from the city government is available for the survey.

ABC president Micahel Ralota said he wanted the survey to start before the year ends.

The survey will focus on gathering data about occupants of a certain structure and the exact location of their dwellings.

Survey data will include the blood type of residents and their water sources.

Ralota said the ABC data base will be useful especially during fires and other calamities./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac