ILOILO City – Some families displaced by Saturday’s fire in barangays Taytay Zone II and Calubihan in Jaro district could not return to where they used to live. They were squatting on lands they did not own and now the owners wanted to keep their private lands squatter-free.
“We have nowhere to go,” said 24-year-old Justine Joy Benoligo who, together with her senior citizen parents, two siblings and two nephews, were temporarily staying at Jaro 1 Elementary School.
According to city government social welfare officer Cirila Sibolinao, this is one of the dilemmas of some 10 families. The city government has no ready remedy.
“May silongan lang kami tani. Bisan wala kuryente basta may tulogan lang (We need a place to stay. It need not have basic necessities such as electricity),” said Benoligo, a call center agent who was forced to go on leave following Saturday’s fire so she could take care of her parents.
She hoped the city government still has available space for them at its relocation areas.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III said yesterday he instructed City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Gene Garingalao to check the status and nature of the lots where these displaced families used to occupy.
“Kon madala sila sa definition sang relocation…we will see kon ano ang mahimo ta,” said Espinosa.
The Benoligos lost everything to the fire.
“We pray for some financial assistance, too, with which we can start our lives all over again,” said Benoligo.
Meanwhile, Victoria Franco, 70, and daughter-in-law Jomalyn, 45, said they would beg the owner of the private lot they used to occupy since 1993 to allow them to go back even if for a short period of time only.
“Mangayo kami relocation. Diin kami matinir abi,” said Jomalyn.
As of 10 a.m. yesterday, the number of families that the fire displaced reached 89 – 65 in Barangay Taytay Zone II and 24 in the adjacent barangay of Calubihan.
Thirty-nine of these families are currently staying at Jaro I Elementary School. The others were in the barangay halls and daycare centers of the two villages.
According to Sibolinao, 16 displaced families from Barangay Calubihan were also squatters on private lots but the owners were kind enough to allow them to return.
“We will release the cash assistance at the earliest possible time,” Mayor Jose Espinosa III said yesterday.
A total of 70 houses were totally gutted by the fire while 19 had partial damage.
Families with totally damaged houses would get P7,000 each while those with partial damage would get P5,000, said Espinosa.
Students who lost their school uniforms to the fire would also get help. Espinosa said he would discuss this with City Social Welfare and Development Office head Gene Garingalao.
“Isa ka estudyante nga taga-CPU (Central Philippine University) nagpalapit gid sa akon, concerned sya kay basi he will be marked absent. Siling ko we will to talk to your school kag kon ano mabulig ta,” said Espinosa./PN
