Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin T. Gathalian has extended financial assistance to 17 homes at M. Orocha Street in Barangay Arkong Bato were razed by fire at around 8 o’clock in the morning of May 5.

Each household received an amount of either PhP 5,000 or PhP 3,000 as assessed depending on the extent of damage the fire brought to their house.  Cash relief was disbursed by the City Government through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to the victims in order to help them ease with their needs. 

The CSWDO explains that the disbursement is based on the number of households affected, which is defined by the National Government as a person or a group of people in one dwelling space.  “Kaya kahit pa isa lang o higit pang pamilya ang nakatira sa iisang bahay, isa lang ang bilang sa kanilang lahat kung sila ay nakatira sa iisang bahay. (So, whether it is a single family or more than one family that lives in one house, they are counted as one household, as long as they live in a single housing unit.)”  Social Worker Violy Hidalgo explained.

Mayor WIN personally handed over cash aid to the victims at the covered court of the Barangay Hall, together with Arkong Bato Punong Barangay Rovin Feliciano and CSWDO Officer-in-Charge Ms. Dorothy G. Evangelista.  “Ipaabot ninyo lang sa amin kung ano pa ang maitutulong namin sa inyo.  (Do not hesitate to tell us what else we could do to help.)

The victims were very thankful of the immediate response of the local government.  “Salamat sa mabilis na aksyon dahil hindi talaga namin alam kung saan kami kukuha ng gagastusin lalo pa at wala kaming nailigtas na mga gamit dahil sa bilis ng pagkalat ng apoy.  (We are really thankful for the quick response because we lack resources.  We were not able to save anything because the fire broke out so fast.),” said one of the victims.