The Pasay City government has provided temporary employment to some 300 employees affected by the fire that struck the Star City Complex earlier this month.
Pasay Mayor Imelda Rubiano assigned them to different city hall departments and barangays to work for 30 days, after the Department of Labor and Employment asked the local government to give them emergency employment while the amusement park is being rebuilt.
Star City management earlier said the amusement park will be closed this coming Christmas until October next year.
“The park burned down early October. This left close to 500 workers jobless, prompting DOLE to seek temporary work for these employees,” said Filipinas Sampang, head of the Public Employment Service Office of Pasay City.
The labor department allotted P5.5 million for this month-long emergency employment program.
“We thank the Department of Labor and the Pasay City government for providing us temporary work,” said Alma dela Cruz, a Star City ride attendant now assigned at the city’s public information office to monitor news and other events.
Another park employee, Carmen Francisco, who is now working at city hall, also expressed her gratitude.
“We are very thankful because this job, even though we are temporary employees, is still a big help for our family, especially this coming Christmas,” she said.
Last Oct. 2, a fire of still unknown origin gutted the amusement park and the office of radio and television network Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC).
No one was reported hurt during the blaze, but more than 500 employees were badly affected.
Investigators said up to 90 percent of the complex was destroyed by the fire, which became a trending topic on social media that day due to some speculation on how it started.
“We’re targeting reopening about October next year. It’s necessary because the importation of rides takes time and the set-up of the park also,” said lawyer Rudolph Steve Juralbal, vice president for legal affairs of the Elizalde Group of Companies, the owner of the amusement park.
Star City is situated at the reclaimed area of the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City across the famed CCP Main Theater. It is also located at the Bay City surrounded by hotels, offices and residential buildings.