by Vic Larato
ZAMBOANGA CITY, 13 March. (PIA 9) – Personnel of the City Social Welfare and Development Office rushed to Barangay Labuan in the west coast shortly after the conflagration broke out Saturday afternoon and distributed relief assistance to 138 families rendered homeless by the fire.
City Social Welfare and Development Officer Francisco Barredo said the fire of still undetermined origin broke out about 3 p.m. Saturday at Purok 5, a neighborhood along the shorelines of Labuan, razing to the ground at least 100 houses and partially damaged 10 other houses and a mosque.
Barredo said the fire had affected a total of 138 families, of whom 110 were house owners, 24 house sharers, 1 renter and 3 house caretakers.
He said immediately after the fire Mayor Lobregat gave P20,000 cash for the purchase of ready-to-eat food for all the fire victims. Shortly, the CSWDO brought to the scene additional food packs that included rice, canned sardines and noodles.
“Today, we also sent additional food assistance,” Barredo said yesterday. “We are still waiting for other good Samaritans to help, especially the local Red Cross,” he added.
According to Barredo, most of the fire victims have preferred to stay with their relatives, some in the barangay hall and still others in the evacuation center.
Ironically, the incident occurred at a time when entire nation is observing March as Fire Prevention Month with the theme “Makiisa, Makialam a Makipagtulungan Upang Sunog ay Maiwasan.”
It is during this time of the year when fire incidents are reportedly most prevalent, and the people are reminded about the value of preventive measures to avoid any disaster that may be caused by fire. (VL-CIO/RVC-PIA-9 ZBST)
