Trenas

Fire razes over 200 houses in Iloilo City’s Molo district

January 28, 2023 People's Tonight 308 views

ILOILO CITY – A residential fire engulfed 234 houses in Barangays West Habog-Habog and Zone 2, San Juan in Molo district here past 4 a.m. on Saturday, according to the report of the Iloilo City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

CSWDO head Teresa Gelogo, in an interview, said displaced families are staying in 21 classrooms of the Baluarte Elementary School and 13 classrooms in San Juan Elementary School.

Of the 234 houses affected, 172 were in West Habog-Habog village and 62 in San Juan.

“The validation of affected families is still ongoing. So far, we have validated 91 households in West Habog-Habog,” she said.

Gelogo added that each of the displaced families will be provided with a sack of rice and other non-food items at the evacuation centers, where they are expected to stay up to 15 days.

“We have established community kitchens inside and outside the evacuation centers since there are adjacent barangays that have volunteered to help cook for their food,” she added.

The local government has sufficient relief goods and expects an augmentation from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) since they have already reported the number of fire-affected families.

Mayor Jerry Treñas has directed the City Health Office to send doctors and nurses to the evacuation centers.

“I do not want an increase in the case of acute gastroenteritis in the evacuation centers,” he said in a statement as he assured a sufficient supply of clean water in the shelters.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is still investigating the cause of the blaze.

The BFP, based on its report released through the Iloilo City Center, received a fire call for West Habog-Habog around 4:37 a.m. (Jan. 28)

The fire was placed under control around 5:58 a.m. and was declared fire out at 6:16 a.m. Philippine News Agency

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