In augmentation support to Las Piñas City Local Governtment Unit (LGU), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide family food packs and non food items to families affected by a recent fire in Banana Compound, Basas II,Barangay Zapote Las Pinas.

Based on reports, a fire razed down 300 houses in the compound around 9:30pm yesterday.

According to Ruth Anonuevo, LGU worker, the fire affected an estimated total of 300 families, of which 194 are currently staying inside the Zapote Elementary School which now serves as an evacuatiom center.

She added that they are currently validating the list of the total affected families, conducting initial assessment, and preparing the disaster family access cards (DFAC) for the victims. As of 3:00 pm, today, the LGU has assessed 158 affected families.

As initial response, the LGU is providing hot meals to the affected families. The barangay provides breakfast while the City LGU facilitated by the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWDO) takes care of the lunch and dinner provisions.

Meanwhile, the DSWD, through its National Capital Regional office, committed to provide around 300 family food packs, bottled water, and non food items such as clothing, blankets and dignity kits.

Benjie Varvoza, Officer in Charge of the Disaster Response Unit of DSWD-NCR said this is in response to the request made by the LGU during a consultation with the CSWDO.

The goods are expected to be received by the fire victims on April 10, 2017.

Mary Joy Gardose, one of the fire victims, recounted that they barely survived as the fire quickly spread. She shared that they were not able to save any of their belongings in their haste to leave their house.

Mary Joy said it is especially difficult for her as she has just given birth and her baby is just 3 days old.

The families of Rosila Moral and Mercdes Celia shared the ordeal of the Gardose family as they were not able to save most of their things.

Rosila, a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiary, shared that “pati yung ATM ko at 4Ps ID nasunog kasi sinigurado muna namin maka-una maligtas yung nanay ko na 72 years old at dalawa kong anak (I lost even my atm and id to the fire as we made sure first that my 72 year old mother and my 2 kids are safe).”

Accordingly, one died due to the fire, an 18 year old who got electricuted as he volunteered to help put out the fire. ###