THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed more than half a million worth of food and non-food relief items to more than 100 families who were affected by fires in Batangas province and Rizal last week.
Thirty houses were razed in Barangay San Juan in Taytay, Rizal last February 3, which displaced 58 families or 213 persons who are now staying at the barangay’s covered court.
On the other hand, 57 houses in Barangay 5 Poblacion in Talisay City in Negros were burned last February 4, displacing 57 families or 213 persons who are now staying at the barangay gymnasium.
Data from the Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC) of the DSWD showed that P532.652 million worth of food and non-food relief items have been distributed to the affected families, including P499,052 million from the agency and P33,600 from the local government units concerned.
The DSWD said it continues to coordinate with the LGUs concerned for possible relief augmentation and the other needs of affected families.
Amid the recent fires, former Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairman Karlo Nograles underscored the need for “serious, long-term commitment” to be better prepared for fire incidents in the future, especially in Davao City.
Nograles, a former congressman, noted that in Davao City, 855 fire incidents were recorded in 2024, the highest in the past five years, resulting in damage totaling to nearly P95 million.
A fire also hit a restaurant in the city last week that was caused by the explosion of a liquified petroleum gas (LPG). The incident injured six persons.
Nograles said that as a developing city, Davao needs to increase its 15 fire stations to at least 37 and raise its current fleet of 15 fire trucks to 72 to meet international safety standards and ensure rapid response in the city’s 182 barangays, especially in high-density and far-flung areas.
“For the past five years, fire incidents have steadily risen, and this highlights the need for more fire stations and better equipment for our firefighters, as well as a focus on fire prevention so that we are proactive instead of reactive to incidents like this LPG explosion,” Nograles said.
“This explosion is another painful reminder that we need to do more to keep our communities safe. We cannot afford to wait for accidents before taking action. A forward-looking approach means building the necessary infrastructure, strengthening fire safety education, and ensuring our firefighting personnel have the tools they need to respond effectively,” he added.
Nograles also stressed the importance of fire prevention which can be done through regular safety inspections, particularly for businesses using LPGs and other flammable materials.
He said a citywide fire safety awareness program should also be launched to educate businesses, homeowners, and students about preventing fires before they start.
