By Mae Singuay

The Bacolod City government will consider relocating residents affected by a fire at Purok Kangkong in the city’s Barangay 7 on Saturday, September 9.

They will be relocated to the city’s Barangay Vista Alegre.

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said yesterday the gutted houses were situated on road lots.

“If there is no road, how can the firetruck enter the area?” Benitez asked.

“Ang pamalay ara sa dalan, gani isaylo sila sa relocation site,” he added.

Benitez said the city government will process the relocation site so that they can start building houses.

He said financial assistance would be provided for the affected families.

A P15,000 cash aid will be released for each household whose house was destroyed in the fire, and P10,000 for those with damaged houses.

Based on the validated report from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 66 families or 331 individuals were affected by the fire as of Sunday, September 10.

At least 38 houses were destroyed, while two were damaged in the almost two-hour blaze that originated from Frederico Lumayno’s house due to an unattended butane gas stove.

Some affected residents were still in the evacuation site in Barangay Villamonte gym, while the others are living with their relatives./MS, WDJ