Capitol Site fire victims appeal for more help

The fire victims whose houses were destroyed by last Thursday’s fire at sitio Sto. Niño, B. Rodriguez Street in barangay Capitol Site asked city officials for help to rebuild their homes.

One of the 47 affected families, the Gutchalian family, asked for plywood and other materials.

Felissa Gutchalian Gayo, a cancer patient in her 50s was tending her sari-sari store when the fire broke out.

The only thing she managed to save was her purse so she could buy her medicine worth more than P1,000 a day.

Felissa said her family received limited relief goods.

Her sister Nely Gutchalian said they are waiting for the P10,000 promised to each family.

“When will we receive it? We don’t want promises. No matter if we don’t receive relief goods, it’s better if we receive wood,” she said in Cebuano.

Some of the Gutchalian family members are staying in a tent near the chapel in sitio Santo Niño, Capitol Site.

Winston Nogra, representative of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CCDRRMC) response group said while tents were provided to the families, most of them rented rooms in nearby places.

The others went to their relatives for shelter.

The City Health Department vaccinated 11 males with anti-tetanus shots for their minor injuries and provided medicines for others.

The city’s Department of Social Welfare Services provided meals to the victims since last Friday until today.

DSWS representative Salve Calago said non-government organizations also helped provide food and clothing.

Capitol Site barangay captain Manuel Guanzon said they are closely monitoring the health condition of the fire victims especially since they refuse to relocate to the sports center where they will be better accommodated.

Calamity area

Capitol Site barangay officials convened for a special session yesterday morning to declare the affected site along B. Rodriguez Avenue as a calamity area to expedite the release of P10,000 cash aid to homeowners.

House sharers and renters will get P5,000 each.

The assistance may be available in the next two weeks, Guanzon said.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district visited the fire victims yesterday and gave P1,000 to the affected families.

Osmeña said the cash taken from the P300,000 Christmas bonus he received as congressman could help them buy toiletries.

An additional P10,000 each will be taken from his pork barrel.

Mayor Michael Rama said he’s waiting for the assessment from the DSWS so they can immediately process the release of the city’s P10,000 cash assistance to each fire victims. Correspondents Christine Emily L. Pantaleon and Edison delos

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