Zambo fire victims receive aid from OCD, other agencies

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Over 400 families displaced by a huge fire here received aid from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Western Mindanao.

Some 411 families displaced by a huge fire in the village of Baliwasan in Zamboanga City received aid from the Office of the Civil Defense in Western Mindanao and other government agencies. 

The OCD, under Regional Director Manuel Luis Ochotorena, distributed hygiene kits, blankets, washable face masks, family kits and even shelter repair tools to the fire victims during a program held recently at the Western Mindanao State University Gymnasium.

The beneficiaries of the aid program also strictly followed health protocols at the gymnasium. They also thanked the OCD and other government agencies, including those involved in the humanitarian program for the aid they received.    

Members of the 547th Engineer Battalion transported the non-food items from OCD main logistic hub in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province to Zamboanga City.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the Philippine Information Agency also extended aid to the fire victims.

The fire destroyed a neighborhood in the coastal village of Baliwasan on March 20 and many of those displaced by the conflagration are temporarily sheltered at covered court of the Baliwasan Central School.

The OCD, which chairs the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said “it remains steadfast in its commitment to contribute to the whole-of-government approach in alleviating the plight of the people affected by disasters and calamities, and in strengthening their resiliency through the various interventions.” (Kimberly Amor)

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