Housing Project Eyed for Talisay City Fire Victims

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Talisay City Mayor Neil Lizares said the city government is studying the possibility of developing a housing project for fire victims in Barangay Zone 5.

At least 57 families were displaced after a fire, allegedly caused by faulty electrical wiring, destroyed their homes Tuesday last week.

Lizares told reporters Thursday that one possible solution is to develop the area into a housing project for the affected residents.

He visited the fire victims, who are currently sheltered at the Talisay City gym, and turned over grocery packs from House Speaker Martin Romualdez, along with PHP5,000 in cash assistance for each family from his own family.

He noted that the fire spread quickly within an hour because the houses were made of light materials.

“We are seriously looking into it,” Lizares said.

However, he added that the project may only be launched after the election due to the ban on new government projects during the campaign period.

Since the affected area is along the shoreline, the city government is also considering the construction of a seawall, he said.

Internally displaced individuals are set to return home this Sunday after their houses were reconstructed using materials donated by other local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs).

Talisay City Department of Social Services and Development head Dionela Madrona said each family received PHP25,000 in total cash assistance, including PHP5,000 from the mayor’s family, PHP10,000 from the city government, PHP5,000 from the Uswag Ilonggo Party-list, and PHP5,000 from the barangay.

She added that the evacuees also received rice and other food supplies from the LGU and NGOs.

The Angels Wings Foundation, led by Talisay City First Lady, Atty. Rowena “Weng” Lizares, also deployed its Kusina Van to provide meals to the displaced residents, Madrona said.