By Jennifer P. Rendon
A fire at noon on November 21 left 57 families homeless after it razed dozens of houses in Barangay San Pedro, Molo, Iloilo City.
Records from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Iloilo City and the Iloilo City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) revealed that 46 houses were completely destroyed, while two were partially damaged.
The CSWDO noted that the affected families included two sharers—families living in extended structures attached to the main house—and seven boarders.
City social welfare officer Teresa Gelogo said the office is also validating reports of 21 additional affected families.
Families whose homes were completely destroyed will receive PHP10,000 from the city government. Owners of partially damaged houses will be given PHP7,000 each.
The fire, which broke out around 12:20 p.m. on Thursday, reached the fourth alarm before being extinguished at 2:06 p.m.
Fire Officer 2 Earl Anthony Darroca, a BFP Iloilo City arson investigator, estimated the damage to property at PHP3.6 million.
Darroca said they have identified the house where the fire started. The occupant, reportedly pregnant, was not home at the time of the incident.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it is likely electrical in origin, Darroca said.
No injuries or casualties were reported during the two-hour blaze.
