At least 500 families here and in Cagayan de Oro City lost their homes on Thursday due to massive fires that swept through their communities.
In a coastal strip of Barangay 21-C here, a huge blaze that raged around 5 p.m. cut through five sub-villages until it was put out at past 7 p.m.
Village chief Joenard Gabrillo said the fire gutted at least 400 housesAs of Friday morning, personnel of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) were still accounting for the total number of affected families who are temporarily sheltered in the gymnasiums of Barangay 21-C and Barangay 22-C.
Each family is allocated a modular tent. CSWDO also operates a mobile kitchen that provides meals for the families.
Acting Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte II visited the displaced families in the evacuation centers on Thursday night, leading the distribution of relief supplies and vowing financial assistance.
On Friday morning, some of the affected residents returned to their houses to scavenge for whatever valuables remained, such as roofing sheets that could be sold as scraps. In Cagayan de Oro City, 89 families of Barangay 17 were left homeless in a fire that broke out around 12:30 p.m.
The displaced families are currently setting up makeshift shelters under the Marcos Bridge, not far from their old community.
Village chief Anthony Atterviry said the gutted houses also hosted students and workers as boarders./coa