On November 13, 2021, Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services Inc. (CorDisRDS) and Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera (CDPC), in partnership with Barangay Buanao LGU conducted a relief delivery operation due to a fire that affected 11 households.
The fire occurred on October 28, 2021 and it started in a household wherein a child left a fire unattended. The fire eventually spread through the house and to other neighbouring houses. Barangay officials called nearby individuals, offices, uniformed personnel and barangays to help put out the fire. During the fire, some of the resident’s put-up wet blankets beside their houses to prevent the fire from spreading to other nearby houses. They have also connected a hose from the nearby water tank to weaken/kill-off the fire. The fire started at 10:30 am and was declared as fire out at 3:00 in the afternoon.
Beneficiaries and Barangay officials dismounting the GI sheets and dividing it per beneficiary.
The Bureau of Fire declared 11 households after a re-assessment of the houses. Many of the houses were made out of wood, light materials and mixed materials while some were made out of concrete. Most of the houses were made out of pine wood and in that day it was very windy due to the northeast monsoon favorable for the fire to last longer and spread faster.
A total of 198 GI sheets, 132 kilos of assorted common nails (2”, 3”, 4”) and 1100 pieces of wired rivets given to the beneficiaries. Each household received 18 GI sheets, 100 pieces of wire rivets and 12 kilos of assorted common nails. Other agencies, individuals and groups have also given food supplies/packs, construction supplies and cash assistance to the affected families.
During the distribution, Barangay officials divided and distributed the common nails, wired rivets, sleeping mats and clothes to the beneficiaries.
Purificacion Manangbao is one of the affected individuals in the fire. Most of her belongings were not saved due to the fire spreading quickly. She said that “Idi mapupuoran ti balay mi, nag pila kami amin manipod idyay karayan ingana idyay sango ti babalay nga mapupuoran. Haan mi nga expectaren nga ag puor ta halos amin kami ket napan kadagiti garden mi. Apag subli mi nataranta kami ta awan pay ti naiparwar mi nga gamgamit mi ta inununa mi dyay kabsat ko nga baldado. Napuoran amin nga gamgamit mi awan ti naisalbar mi ”. When our house was burning, we immediately went to the river and formed a line to pass water to put out the fire. We did not expect that a fire would occur because almost all of us went to our gardens. When we arrived at our houses, we did not know what to do and we were not able to save any of our belongings because we saved our disabled brother first. We could not save anything.
Biyernes Puat was attending to his garden when the fire started. Just like manang Purficacion, they could not save any of their belongings. In the midst of the fire, Biyernes’s son was almost caught in the fire but he was able to jump out from the second floor window of their house. Manong Biyernes said “Awan ti naisalbar mi. Ingana platplato, cellphone ken kwarta nga inururnung mi ket han mi naiparwar. Idi naamwak nga mapupuoran ti balay mi ket dagos nga napan ak idyay balay mi. Imbag ta nakalagto dyay anak ko manipod dyay second floor ket pasamalat ko ta haan suna nga nairaman idyay puor. Isunga agdawat kami ti tulong yu apo ta maka takder kami manen. ” We could not save anything, even the kitchen wares, cell phones and cash that we have saved. When I have known that our house was burning I immediately went home. I was grateful that my son was able to jump from the second floor and was not caught by the fire. We are kindly asking for your help for us to be able to recover.
Remains of the house of Mr. Biyernes Puyat
According to the community, a fire occurred 60 years ago in the barangay. Maria T. Sibao the barangay secretary of Brgy. Buanao relayed ” Idi 1960 daytoy Buanao ket napuoran, ket iti insigun nga istorya ti aama mi ken iina mi ta awan kami pay laeng idi. Kastoy ti istorya na, 3 nga istructura ti nabati iti puor idi 1960 dyay simbaan ken 2 nga balay ket tatta nga year dyay nabatbati nga balay idi 1960 isu iti narugian ti puor ittata ket nu bilbilangin tayo dyay anniversary na kusto laing nga 60 inabot na.” In the 1960s, barangay Buanao experienced a fire. The stories of our grandparents is that there were 3 structures that were left in the fire, 2 are houses and a church. This year, one of the remaining house in the 1960 fire is where the fire started. Counting the years, it would have been the 60th anniversary of the fire this year.
During the fire, most of the residents were not at their homes as they were attending their gardens. Only a few residents were at their homes, specifically children. The helping hand of the community members of Bangilo with the uniformed personnel had helped to prevent further damages. Furthermore, with the help of the different agencies, organizations, groups and individuals they are slowly recovering.