Baby thrown next door to save him from fire

DESPITE the depressing surroundings at the gymnasium of the Bulacao Elementary School which serves as a holding area for the families affected by the Monday’s fire at sitio Renaissance, Chona Tagalog was all smiles as she cradles her two month old son.

Chona was thankful that her 18-year-old nephew, Ian Niño Tagalog, had the presence of mind to rush to save the baby before flames overrun her house.

Chona was not around when the fire struck. Ian grabbed his cousin who was sleeping in a hammock and threw him on a sofa in the next house.

“Nakuyawan ko kay pagbalik nako sa balay, wala na ko kita sa akong anak,” she said.

Their 17-year-old neighbor, Christine Manilag, was gathering her belongings when she saw the baby on the sofa.

“Wala na siya kaluwas sa ubang gamit kay gi-save na niya ang bata,” Christine’s mother told CDN.

The Cebu City government will not bar residents affected by Monday’s fire in barangay Bulacao from rebuilding their homes in a private-owned lot they were occupying.

Alvin Santillana, head of the City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC), said it has been a policy of Mayor Michael Rama not to allow a fire incident be used to constructively evict informal settlers.

“Pabalikon gyud na sila except ug naay court order (for their eviction),” he said. “We have been in discussion with the barangay officials about the ownership of the lot which they occupy and we have been telling residents that they will be allowed to rebuild in the area.”

Ester Concha, head of the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), said they have been handing out meals packs to 55 families from the night the fire struck on Monday night.

The city government will also be giving out relief packs that includes rice and canned goods when their provision for meal packs ends on Thursday. A cash assistance of P10, 000 will also be given to residents to help them buy construction materials.

The amount will be distributed immediately after the DSWS completes the verification and documentation of the fire victims. /Correspondent Joy Quito And Chief Of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac