At least 188 families went homeless after a fire razed their houses in Sitio Bukid, Barangay Tabing Ilog in Marilao, Bulacan on yesterday afternoon.
Based on initial investigation, the fire started around 12:15 pm and was declared fire out around 3:00 pm where some 23 fire trucks responded to the incident.
The burnt houses were made of light materials so the fire spread quickly and reached the third alarm.
According to Mayor Ricky Silvestre, the fire victims were evacuated to the Marilao Convention Center and were given food. No one was initially reported injured in the blaze while the investigation into what and where the fire came from is still ongoing.
Meanwhile, around 6:00 pm, Governor Daniel Fernando immediately went to the evacuation center along with the staff of the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO) and brought assistance to the victims.
The governor also ordered the immediate transfer of the fire victims to Marilao Central School to avoid physical contact and the possible spread of COVID-19 disease.
According to Fernando, the provincial government immediately provided a cavan of rice to each of the families affected by the fire. Each family will receive P10,000 for those with severely damaged houses and P5,000 for those partially damaged.
The governor ordered the PSWDO to give first an initial P2,500 to each of the family for their expenses while at the evacuation center. The victims also received face masks, face shields and vitamins.