Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has consoled the families affected by a recent fire in Malate that killed two residents and destroyed more than P2 million worth of properties.
Estrada visited Barangay 704, Zone 77 in Adriatico, District 5 on Friday to personally distribute construction materials to an initial batch of 102 families who lost their homes in the August 18 fire.
“No matter how busy I am running our city, you know that I’ll find time to be with you. I hope these building materials would help you repair or put up your dwellings,” Estrada told the affected residents who are staying at the Barangay Amadome covered court behind the San Andres Sports Complex.
“We have a saying, ‘never mind being stolen from, just not get your house burned down,’ so I know what you’re going through,” he added.
Each family received 30 pieces of assorted lumber, five pieces of plywood, 10 pieces of iron sheets, and assorted nails, all worth P10,000 and enough to rebuild their homes, City Engineer Rogelio Legazpi said.
After talking to the residents, Estrada instructed barangay officials to ensure the fire victims will get all the assistance they need until they have recovered from the incident. B
It was Estrada’s second visit to the community. He went there on August 19, a day after the incident, to assess the damage caused by the huge fire and check the condition of the displaced residents.
He was accompanied by 5th District Rep. Cristal Bagatsing, 5th District Councilor Boy Isip, Barangay 704 Chairwoman Virginia Elizan, and City Hall officials and department heads.
Isip, chairman of the committee on engineering and public works, has led efforts to place Barangay 704, Zone 77 under state of calamity even as the City Council was in recess.
The Adriatico fire on August 18 gutted 125 houses along Camia Street, displacing 250 families and destroying an estimated P2.7 million worth of properties. Unfortunately, it also resulted to the deaths of two residents identified as Abelardo Salonga, 79, and his son Jimmy, 47.
On the same day, another fire hit Aroma Temporary Housing site in Vitas, Tondo, leaving 660 more families homeless and two children dead, according to the Manila Department of Social Welfare.
Last March, Estrada donated P20 million worth of construction materials to hundreds of families who lost their homes in a huge fire at Parola Compound, Tondo on February 7.
The fire at the impoverished Parola community burned down a total of 1,162 houses and left 2,100 families, or 8,555 individuals, homeless.
Last May, Estrada distributed sacks of rice and building materials to 86 families who lost their homes in another fire that hit Isla Puting Bato, also in Tondo. He also shouldered the funeral expenses of a 15-year-old boy who died in the blaze.
On August 2016, Estrada also distributed P3 million worth of construction materials to families in Baseco Compound and Quiapo who were hit by tornado and fire. He also sent 100 city hall workers to assist the residents in the repair and reconstruction works.
On March last year, Estrada also donated a total of P7.3 million of construction supplies to families who lost their homes in two separate fires in barangays 775 and 770 in Sta. Ana.
When a big fire razed 130 houses in barangays 155 and 160 in Dagupan Extension, Tondo on January 1 last year, Estrada also helped the victims reconstruct their homes.