Mandaue City places 3 sitios under state of calamity due to fire

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Acting on the request of acting Mandaue City Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, the city council placed 3 sitios in Barangay Tipolo under a state of calamity on Tuesday, June 27, following a dawn fire that struck the city the same day. 

The city council said the state of calamity declaration is “pending compliance and submission” of the required documents from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Mandaue City Social Welfare Services, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

According to the Mandaue City Fire Station report, the 3 sitios “gutted by fire” were Basubas, Maharlika, and Espina in Barangay Tipolo.

No fatalities nor injuries were recorded, and damage was pegged at P1.3 million.

The Mandaue City Fire Station said the fire broke out at 1:08 am on Tuesday and was completely extinguished at 9:12 am. 

An investigation of the fire department confirmed that the blaze originated from the two-story home of Mariano Conchas and Alma Conchas.

Barangay Tipolo Chief Romana Cuizon said about 1,200 families living in 752 residential establishments were displaced by the fire.

“Mostly, the people that were affected [here] are poor or low-income families,” Cuizon said, adding that donations like food, toiletries, water, used clothing, and other basic needs may be given to the fire victims.

Although the city has already placed the sitios in Barangay Tipolo under state of calamity, Cuizon said the P300,000-calamity fund would not be enough for the needs of the victims. 

“Given the magnitude of this calamity, the victims will need the support of the public for whatever assistance that can be extended to them,” Fortuna said, according to a Facebook post by Mandaue City PIO. – Rappler.com