Baste, Gatchalian assure help for fire victims in 3 barangays

Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte had a brief meeting with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday and discussed ways on extending immediate assistance to the victims of the huge fire incident on Saturday.

Also discussed during the meeting, which was attended by Presidential Assistant II for Eastern Mindanao Secretary Leo Magno, was the possible relocation of the victims of the recent fire in Barangays 21-C, 22-C, and 23-C in Davao City.

Gatchalian was in Davao City upon the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to per- sonally check on the condition of the victims, extend help and hear their concerns.

They also visited the fire victims who are temporarily housed at the Brgy. 22-C Gymnasium in Piapi, Boulevard and distributed family kits.

There are 2,000 families displaced following a massive fire occurred over the weekend.

Based on the report of the Bureau of Fire Protection-Davao (BFP-Davao) that the houses gutted by fire were mostly made of light materials, with the damage estimated at around P9 million. There was no reported injury or death from the incident. By Maya M. Padillo