Lobregat distributes cash aid to Cawit blaze victims
A fire victim from Cawit receives from Mayor Celso Lobregat her check representing the city's cash assistance in crisis situation Wednesday afternoon. Looking on is Cawit chairman Rey Modillas. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
Mayor Celso Lobregat distributed yesterday afternoon the city government’s financial assistance to 15 out of 154 families rendered homeless by fire that broke out last April 5 on the coastline of Barangay Cawit, east of this city.
Heads of at least seven families, whose houses were totally razed to the ground, received P5,000 each for a total of P35,000 while two family heads whose properties were partially destroyed received P3,000 each along with six family house sharers receiving also P3,000 check. Total financial assistance extended was P59,000.
Lobregat personally handed over the checks to the beneficiaries. He was assisted by City Social Welfare and Development Officer Francisco Barredo and Cawit barangay chairman Rey Modillas.
At the same time, the chief executive has instructed Barredo to document the 15 family heads for their immediate enrollment in the city government PhilHealth assistance the soonest time possible—for hospitalization benefits. Also to receive additional assistance, are two family heads with impaired sights (blind).
To recall, at least 154 houses went up in smoke when a conflagration broke out at about 9 a.m. on April 5, this year on the coastline of Barangay Cawit. This prompted the city government to ban reconstruction of any structure on the burnt site.
The local government offered to relocate the affected families at a nearby resettlement project in Barangay Tulungatung, but most of the families refused the offer as they preferred to return and reconstruct their houses.
The city government stood firm on its ban even as negotiations have been dragging for months now, thus the delay in the distribution of cash assistance. So far, only 15 families agreed to receive the assistance and relocation offers.
The rest of the victims (139) families opted not to receive the cash aid. (Vic Larato)