Davao City – The office of the First Congressional District Representative Paolo "Pulong" Duterte last weekend distributed cash aid and rice packs to more than 500 families affected by a fire in Barangay Vicente Duterte in Agdao District.
Each recipient, which consisted of house owners, sharers, boarders, renters, and caretakers, received cash aid and 10 kilos of rice from Rep. Duterte's office. The distribution was held at Holy Cross Drive in Barangay Vicente Duterte at around 1:30 p.m.
In the initial report from the Davao City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), 574 families were affected by the incident — 275 are house owners, 126 sharers, 127 renters, 40 boarders, and six caretakers.
“Our current situation is exhausting. My husband and I were not around when the fire gutted down our house; not even a single valuable item was saved from the incident. We are very thankful that we have a Cong. Pulong Duterte,” said Lyn Noble, a factory worker and one of the fire victims.
The fire gutted over 300 houses at Purok IKP and San Jose in Barangay Vicente Duterte on March 9, Tuesday, at around 2:53 p.m. All victims are temporarily sheltered at Kasilak Gymnasium and two other evacuation centers in the barangay.
Barangay Vicente Duterte chairwoman Remedios dela Luz said she was really saddened by the incident. Luz expressed her gratitude to Rep. Duterte, for the help extended to the fire victims.
The district office has been giving food packs not only to its constituents, but also to other areas of Davao City where people are in need of immediate assistance even amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.