Students displaced by fire in Tagbilaran get new school supplies

PHOTO: Benjie Olivia’s facebook page

TAGBILARAN CITY — June Mark Justol came to school with a new bag and supplies on Wednesday after the Christmas break.

Justol, 17, and a Grade 10 student, lost all his belongings, including his bag, notebooks and uniforms, during a fire in Barangay Poblacion 2 that wiped out at least 50 houses on Dec. 23, 2022.

On Tuesday night, former Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) administrator and president-elect of Rotary Club of Pasay Cyber City Benjie Oliva distributed bags and school supplies to 75 Kinder to Grade 12 students, who were affected by the fire.

“This is a big help,” said Justol when he received his bag loaded with ballpens and papers.

Oliva was assisted by the staff of Tagbilaran City Councilor Atoy Torralba and members of Metro Walk Eagles Club.

“It’s really fulfilling because at least the children can go to school and that they will not worry about their school supplies,” said Oliva.

He said he committed to allocate a scholarship grant until college to Grey Manzano whose parents and her sibling died during the fire.

Grey, 12, and an altar boy, survived the fire since he slept at the nearby church for the Misa de Gallo when the fire happened.

The Dec. 23 fire killed three persons and left 75 families composed of 321 individuals homeless. They celebrated Christmas and New Year at the evacuation center.

Vice President Sara Duterte also sent sacks of rice to the fire victims on Wednesday.

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