Murcia fire victims receive fast assistance

“We have received no complaints from the fire victims, as the Murcia LGU headed by Mayor Gerry M. Rojas immediately provided food aid, hygiene kits, sleeping mats, clothes, temporary shelter and other basic essentials to the fire victims,” said Ana Naranja, head of the Murcia Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.

Last Friday’s (April 14) early morning fire occurred at Purok Sambag, Brgy. Zone 1, Murcia, at an area which is just a block across the Murcia Bureau of Fire Protection Substation, the Murcia PNP Headquarters and the Murcia Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Headquarters.

“Upon instruction of Mayor Gerry Rojas, LGU officials and other government agencies held an emergency meeting last Friday to assess the situation and provide assistance to the victims. We also informed our provincial and regional offices about the incident, and we are very thankful that they also sent immediate assistance,” Naranja added.

Sixteen households were damaged by the fire, affecting twenty families. No casualty or injury was recorded. The fire victims are now temporarily sheltered at the DRRMO Headquarters and in two nearly day care centers.

The local government, thru the MWSDO, distributed hygiene kits containing toothbrushes, laundry and bath soap, diapers and milk for adults and children, among others. The LGU also gave purified water, rice and cash assistance.

“We are still processing the cash assistance for quick distribution to the victims. Families with totally damaged houses might be given P10,000, while families whose houses were only partially damaged might receive P5,000,” Naranja explained.

The Negros Occidental Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office likewise distributed rice, canned goods, tarpaulins for temporary roofing, canned goods, water jug, sleeping mats and cooking pots, among other assistance.

Naranja disclosed that the DSWD Region 6 Office, upon learning of the fire incident, immediately released more assistance to the fire victims. According to Naranja, DSWD 6 has prepositioned relief goods at its warehouse in Himamaylan City, and the Murcia MSWDO simply had to go to the warehouse and withdraw the relief goods for distribution.

The DSWD 6 Office provided two boxes of food packs containing rice, canned goods, milk and other essentials, sleeping mats and hygiene kits, among others.

The DRRMO 6 Office, thru the Provincial Health Office, distributed hygiene kits containing toothbrushes and toothpaste, laundry bar, bath soap, shampoo, sanitary napkins, plastic utility pail, plastic dipper, chamber pot, bath towels and malong, and undergarments.

Naranja further disclosed that 3rd District Board Members Manman Ko and Andrew Montelibano, Murcia SB Member Philip Belleza and other private citizens also distributed relief goods and assistance to the fire victims.* (Butch Bacaoco)