By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
During a visit to Bacolod City yesterday, Senator-elect Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go
pledged assistance to those affected by last week’s fire in the city’s Barangay 2, which
devastated Purok Cagaycay. Displaced families are currently seeking shelter at Andres Bonifacio
Elementary School.
Aside from the turnover of relief supplies from the Department of Social Welfare and
Development, Go promised the affected families government housing from the National Housing
Authority.
Actor Philip Salvador also participated in the event, alongside Bacolod City Mayor Evelio
Leonardia, Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, outgoing Negros Occidental third district Rep.
Alfredo Benitez, among others.
The city’s Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) earlier admitted they lack firefighting equipment,
such as a dedicated tanker truck.
Last week, aside from the fire in Barangay 2, the Bacolod City BFP faced a concurrent blaze at a
grocery store in Barangay Handumanan. The incidents left the local department stretched thin as
resources were not sufficient to tackle both incidents at the same time.
Fire Marshal, Fire Chief Inspector Publio Ploteña, earlier explained, they were forced to respond
to Barangay 2 first as that blaze was considered a “huge threat” to human life. Afterwards, once
a ‘fire out’ was declared in Purok Cagaycay, they immediately returned to Barangay
Handumanan and resumed firefighting operations.
Ploteña also earlier confirmed the Barangay 2 blaze was a case of arson./DGB, WDJ