The Visayan Electric Company (Veco) through its Labor Management Cooperative and Veco Employees Union, distributed relief goods to the 462 families affected by the fire in barangay Ermita, Cebu City.
Sebastian Lacson, Veco chief operating officer, said the food assistance is under the initiative of Veco.
Lacson said Veco allocates a budget every year for the victims of calamities like fire in its franchise area from San Fernando town in southern Cebu and Liloan town in the north.
Two company vehicles loaded with relief goods arrived at 9 a.m. at the barangay gym.
Each family received a bag containing three kilos of rice, noodles, mineral water, biscuits and canned goods.
Junelyn Eborde, 34, one of the recipients and a mother of 2-week-old baby, said “The donation is a great help but it will last for only three days,” Eborde said.
Eborde, who earns P200 a day from her work Carbon Market unit 1, said despite her meager income, she does not rely mainly on donations and has to set aside in their budget a certain amount for their consumption for the coming days.
Another fire victim, 71-year-old Jesus Pulvera, said the canned goods will last for several days since they also eat other viands, except for rice.
Pulvera said the three kilos of rice are not enough for him and his children’s families consumption for two days.
Meanwhile, Ermita barangay captain Antonieto Flores thanked Veco for helping the fire victims.
He encouraged the residents to have their electricity re-installed by the utility firm.
He said he was happy with the city mayor’s program “Let There Be light,” which helps residents acquire electricity. /WITH CORRESPONDENT CHRISTINE EMILY PANTALEON