Aid pours in for over 8K individuals displaced by Cebu fire

MANILA: Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Thursday released PHP10 million in financial aid for the 8,013 individuals left homeless after a massive fire razed their houses in Sitio Sta. Maria, Barangay Pusok in Lapu-Lapu City. Mayor Junard Chan received the donation on behalf of the fire victims who, he said, needed food, clothing, and hygiene kits while staying at an evacuation center at Marcelo Fernan Park umder the second Mactan-Mandaue Bridge. Neighboring towns and cities, and various groups have responded immediately after Lapu-Lapu City declared a state of calamity after the huge fire razed more than 600 houses last Tuesday. He said Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. donated his one-month salary to the victims, while Ako Bisaya Partylist Rep. Sonny Lagon also gave food packs and gallons of water. Chan said some mayors also pledged their support to the fire victims while various groups also organized their relief drives to gather clothes, food, and other necessities. Chan's wife, Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Rep. Cynthia King Chan said she asked for support from her colleagues in the House of Representatives and the Senate and that they have expressed willingness to help the 1,575 families who lost their houses days before Christmas. The legislator also helped the team of Senator Sonny Angara in distributing food packs containing assorted canned goods, biscuits, coffee, personal hygiene items, beverages, and chocolate drinks to the victims. 'Thanks to the support from different sector,' the mayor said, even as he cited Lapu-Lapu City Legal Office for partnering with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter and the Mactan Island Lawyer League for free legal assistance to fire victims, especially those who want to execute affidavit of loss for their lost documents due to the fire. This documentation will also grant them the access to relief assistance, such as rental subsidy based on the existing city ordinance. The Aboitiz Power, Aboitiz Foundation, Aboitiz Infra-Capital, and Aboitiz Ec onomic Estate also distributed hygiene packs for 1,503 families and pledged to return on Friday for another tranche of basic necessity packs. Source: Philippines News Agency