Showing posts with label fire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fire. Show all posts

Monday, December 2, 2024

Residential Fires November, 2024

This is a reported list of residential fires in the Philippines for November, 2024. The Bureau of Fire Protection is on record saying the fire codes does not apply to residential areas which is why so many of them go up in flames during a fire. Being made of light materials all it takes is one spark to cause massive devastation. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/925821/residential-fire-in-batasan-hills-qc-reaches-1st-alarm/story/

A fire that broke out in a residential area in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City on Sunday morning reached first alarm before it was completely put out by firemen from the Bureau of Fire Protection.

The fire along IBP Road was extinguished after 30 minutes, according to a report by Christian Maño on Super Radyo dzBB.

It was behind the Barangay Batasan Hills Health Center.


https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/11/02/2397073/fire-razes-houses-inside-quezon-city-cemetery

A fire broke out beside the Bagbag Public Cemetery in Quezon City yesterday, disrupting visits to the graves of their loved ones by hundreds of people observing All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Arson investigators of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire destroyed about 21 shanties along Interior Road. Some 30 families were reportedly affected by the fire which broke out at 9:02 a.m. and put under control at 10:17 a.m.

Investigators said the fire originated on the second floor of a shanty. The cause of the blaze is still unknown.

Thirty-four fire trucks, 21 from the BFP and 13 from volunteer groups, and three ambulances rushed to the scene.

No one was reported hurt in the incident, and investigators estimated the cost of damage to property at P90,000.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/4/fire-affects-5-families-in-taguig

A fire razed a house in Barangay New Lower Bicutan in Taguig.  

According to the Taguig City Fire Station, the fire started at about 5:20 p.m. on Nov. 2 from a two-storey house on San Diego Street. 

Firefighters raised the first alarm at 5:24 p.m. before the blaze was put out at 5:50 p.m. 

The fire affected five families or 13 individuals, and damaged P50,000 worth of properties. The fire station said the blaze started from the second floor of the house but the cause is under investigation. 

A total of 10 fire trucks from the Bureau of Fire Protection and seven from local government units and volunteer groups, and two ambulances responded to the incident.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/8/fire-hits-residential-area-in-tondo-manila-5

A fire broke out in a residential area in Barangay 128 Balut, Tondo, Manila on Thursday evening, November 7. 

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire was raised to the first alarm at 11:38 p.m. and escalated to the second alarm at 11:57 p.m. 

The blaze was declared under control at 12:52 a.m. and extinguished at 3:10 a.m. 

A total of 13 firetrucks responded to the incident. 

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/8/fire-hits-ermita-residential-area

A fire has hit a residential area in Barangay 659, Ayala Boulevard, Ermita, Manila on Friday, November 8, Fire Alert Metro Manila reported.

According to authorities, the blaze started at around 3:19 in the afternoon and has reached the 2nd alarm at around 3:21 p.m.

Firefighters declared fire out at 4:09 p.m.

Arson investigators are still determining the cause of the fire and total amount of damage to property.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/926558/fire-in-residential-area-in-tondo-manila-reaches-2nd-alarm/story/

A fire broke out in a residential area in Tondo, Manila on Sunday morning.

The fire on Villaruel Street, Barangay 255, Zone 23 in District 2 started past 6 a.m and reached the second alarm, according to a report by Carlo Mateo on Super Radyo dzBB.

Firemen were able to put out the fire at 6:51 a.m.

The fire affected two houses where four families more or less were staying, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.

No one was hurt in the incident.

The BFP is investigating the incident but said estimated cost of damage is at P70,000 more or less.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/10/9-families-lose-homes-in-fire-sparked-by-crashed-tanker-truck-in-benguet

Nine families composed of 28 people lost their homes in a fire sparked by a fuel tanker that crashed into a warehouse in Barangay Puguis here before dawn on Sunday, Nov. 10. 

Police said the tanker driver who remains unidentified was killed and his passenger survived and is now being treated in a hospital.  

Investigation said the tanker lost its brakes and rammed the warehouse in front of a police station. The tanker exploded and caused a fire that spread to six nearby houses and business establishments. 

Fire Senior Insp. Jeric Ramolete, ground commander, declared the fire under control at 3:36 a.m. Fire out was declared at 5:12 a.m. 

Damage to property was placed at P11 million. 

Families who lost their homes were taken to the Puguis Elementary School while the Municipal Health Services Office conducted a checkup of affected residents with the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera Administrative Region. 

The Municipal General Services Office and La Trinidad Fire Station has called the owner of the tanker to conduct a cleanup of the area.  

The intersection of Barangay Puguis was temporarily closed to traffic and motorists were advised to take alternate routes.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/13/fire-hits-paranaque-residential-area-1

A fire hit a residential area in 11-A Bayview Drive, Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City on Tuesday night, November 12.

According to FO2 Michele Maculada of the Parañaque City Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), the fire started at around 8:32 p.m. and was declared fire out at 9:11 p.m.

She said 16 fire trucks responded to control the spread of the fire.

Arson investigators are still determining the cause of the fire and total amount of damage to property.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/15/septuagenarian-killed-in-zamboanga-city-fire

A 70-year-old man was killed and 15 families were left homeless by a fire in Barangay Tumaga here on Thursday night, Nov. 14. 

Arson investigators said the victim, Expedito Gaganting, was believed trapped by the flames in his house. His body was found inside the toilet during mopping-up operations. 

Initial investigation showed that the fire started in Gaganting’s house and spread to 10 other houses. 

The cause of the fire and damage to property are yet to be determined. 

The City Social Welfare and Development Office said that 15 families composed of 51 individuals lost their homes and spent the night in a covered basketball court or with relatives. 

Mayor John Dalipe here delivered assistance composed of hot meals, food packs, and hygiene kits to affected families.  

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/fire-hits-dormitory-in-bacolod

A fire engulfed a dormitory in Purok KBS, St. Scholastica, Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City, on the morning of Friday, November 15.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), no injuries or casualties were reported in the incident.

BFP records indicated that the fire started around 7:37 a.m. and heavily damaged the Suelto Dormitory, which is owned by Segritte Tapang Suelto.

Several fire trucks were immediately dispatched to the scene, and the blaze was brought under control upon their arrival.

The BFP is continuing its investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

The fire caused an estimated P7,500 in property damage.


https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/19/fire-hits-houses-in-san-juan

A fire has hit a residential area on F. Manalo Street in Barangay Kabayanan, San Juan City on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 19. 

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the blaze started at around 4:43 p.m. and reached the 2nd alarm at around 4:48 p.m.

Firefighters declared fire out at 5:41 p.m.

Arson investigators are still determining the cause of the fire and total amount of damage to property.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/20/1-000-residents-affected-in-pasig-fire-mayor-vico

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Wednesday, Nov. 20, said that around 1,000 individuals were adversely affected by the fire that hit a residential area on Kangkungan Street in Barangay Manggahan, Pasig City Tuesday night, Nov. 19.

Sotto said the evacuees are currently staying at the evacuation centers in Barangay Manggahan as arson investigators continue to investigate the incident.

"After setting up the evacuation centers at Kaalinsabay Covered Court and Napico Multipurpose Hall, the city government immediately deployed and distributed sleeping kits to those affected by the fire," Sotto said. 

Sotto was also joined by Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo to check on the situation of the evacuees. 

In the Bureau of Fire Protection's (BFP's) initial report, the blaze started at 6:35 p.m. and reached the 2nd alarm at 6:55 p.m. The fire was raised to the 3rd alarm at 7:01 p.m. and was extinguished at 10:41 p.m. 

Two individuals were hurt during the incident - an 18-year-old male who suffered 2nd degree burns on his right forearm and another male patient who sustained laceration wounds on his finger. 

An estimated P2 million worth of damage to property was recorded by the authorities.

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1238439

At least 57 families were rendered homeless when a fire hit a residential area in Barangay San Pedro in Molo town on Thursday at noon.

“The fire caused significant damage, with 46 houses destroyed and two partially damaged,” Acting Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon said in a statement.

Data from the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWDO) showed the affected families also included seven border families and two sharers, equivalent to 240 individuals.

They are currently staying at Molo 1 Elementary School.

Ganzon said they are preparing the necessary resources to support the fire victims.

“We have activated our social welfare and health teams to provide temporary shelter, food, medical assistance, and counseling services,” he said.

Static water tanks with a capacity of 2,000 liters are also being provided at Molo I Elementary School to ensure access to safe drinking water, he added.

He also urged the public to help the families who have lost their homes.

Investigation is still ongoing to determine the cause of the fire that began at 12:22 p.m. and was placed under control at 1:16 p.m.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2007944/fire-leaves-2-people-dead-another-injured-in-qc

A fire that broke out in a residential area in Quezon City on Thursday left two people dead and one person injured, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region (BFP-NCR).

The BFP-NCR said in a report Friday that the blaze killed a 68-year-old male and a 17-year-old female, whose names were not revealed, and hurt Bonifacio de Guzman, 72, who sustained 2nd-degree burns on his right shoulder.

Authorities said the blaze reached the first alarm at 4:58 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, and then the second alarm at 5:11 p.m.

The blaze was declared under control at 6:23 p.m. and finally extinguished at 6:38 p.m.

The BFP-NCR said the fire damaged around seven houses, affecting 15 families. It also said that losses due to the blaze totaled P17,500.

Fire investigators are yet to determine the cause of the blaze, which started at the house of a certain Erlinda Macapagal.

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/22/fire-hits-residential-area-in-malabon-city-3

A fire broke out in a residential area along Santanco Road in Barangay Catmon, Malabon City on Friday afternoon, Nov. 22. 

According to the Bureau Fire Protection (BFP), the 1st alarm was raised at 2:29 p.m. and the second alarm at 2:47 p.m. 

It reached 3rd alarm at 2:55 p.m. and was declared under control at 3:25 p.m. 

The blaze was extinguished at 3:32 p.m.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/23/tondo-fire-reaches-5th-alarm

About 1,000 houses were destroyed and 2,000 families were left homeless in a massive fire in Isla Puting Bato in Tondo, Manila on Sunday, Nov. 24.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire reached the first alarm at 8:02 a.m. and was immediately raised to the second alarm at 8:05 a.m.

Firefighters said they were experiencing water shortage so they raised it to the fourth and fifth alarm at 8:16 a.m.

It was eventually elevated to Task Force Alpha at 9:02 a.m. and Task Force Bravo at 10:13 a.m.

At 11:55 a.m., the BFP said the fire had reached Task Force Charlie. It fire was finally extinguished at 4:07 p.m.

At least 71 fire trucks, four fire boats, and three ambulances responded to the fire incident.

Three helicopters of the Philippine Air Force with helibuckets also joined the firefighters in containing the fire.

Fire responders said the houses affected were made of light materials.

The affected area is adjacent to the container terminal of the Port Area.

The motorists were advised to take alternate routes to give way for the incoming firetrucks. 

The Coast Guard Station (CGS) Manila, CGS Malacañang, and Special Operations Unit (SOU) - Malacañang, together with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), are helping in the firefighting and rescue operations onboard two fire boats.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan visited the fire victims and ordered the city council to declare the affected area under a state of calamity.

She also led the distribution of hot meals and modular tents to the 3,000 evacuees at Delpan Center.

Several agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) also arrived at the scene to provide aid to the families affected.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/24/fire-hits-residential-area-in-sampaloc-manila-1

About 10 families were left homeless after a fire destroyed several structures along Carola and Dos Castillas Streets in Sampaloc, Manila, on Sunday evening, Nov. 24. 

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire was raised to the first alarm at 6:32 p.m. and the second alarm at 6:36 p.m. 

It was immediately elevated to the third alarm at 6:38 p.m.  

Firefighters managed to put the fire under control at 7:40 p.m. and extinguished it at 8:11 p.m. 

Based on the initial investigation, the fire allegedly started inside a dilapidated house situated behind a flower shop. 

Residents said the fire spread quickly because the wooden houses were close together and there was almost no space between them. 

They said it was not long before the row of houses was ablaze. 

There were also business owners whose flower shops had been damaged. 

Meanwhile, personnel of the Manila Department of Social Welfare provided hot meals to the fire victims. 

They also gave modular tents and blankets to the affected families. 

The local government said they will provide cash assistance to the victims including those affected by the massive fire in Tondo. 

Authorities said around P200,000 worth of properties were damaged in the fire.

 

https://mindanaotimes.com.ph/fire-razes-30-houses-in-ma-a/

A FIRE broke out in Purok 30, Barangay Ma-a on Sunday morning, leaving 30 families homeless and causing an estimated P400,000 in damages.

The fire was first reported to the Bucana S.I.R. Fire Station at 7:44 a.m.

Firefighters responded swiftly, declaring the fire under control by 8:11 a.m. and fully extinguished at 8:41 a.m.

The blaze, which reached the first alarm status,  completely destroyed 14 houses and a commercial building.

Two other houses sustained partial damage. Meanwhile, there were no casualties or injuries reported in the incident. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.

Moreover, the affected families are now seeking temporary shelter and assistance from the local government and social welfare agencies.

A family of three died while two firefighters were injured after a fire engulfed a two-story commercial building in Jolo, Sulu dawn on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

The fire was raised to second alarm and was put out after nearly an hour.

Authorities said a couple and their 13-year-old son who were renting the second floor of the building may have been trapped inside the building and died of suffocation.

"Actually, we were told that the man and his wife (got out). Then, the child they left inside. That's what came back. They were not able to return immediately, as if they were suffocated," BFP-Jolo Acting Fire Marshall, SFO4 Abdulyakin Jamaluddin, said.

Two firefighters were also injured. One of the two was brought to a hospital in Zamboanga City after sustaining head injuries.

Investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire, as of this writing.

Damage to property reached around P400,000.

“As of now, still under investigation… mind you, it actually started on the second floor. The occupants there said that when they woke up, the fire was already big,” Jamaluddin added.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/27/22-families-homeless-in-tacloban-city-fire

At least 22 families were left homeless in a fire on Tuesday morning in Barangay 80, Marasbaras here. 

The blaze reportedly started from the house of a 68-year-old woman. 

It rapidly engulfed several structures, burning a total of 16 houses. 

The Tacloban City Fire Station declared fire out at 11:14 a.m. 

Damage to property was placed at  P500,000.  No injuries or fatalities were reported. 

Arson investigators are still determining the cause of the fire. 

Affected families appealed for food, clothing, and financial assistance.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/26/fire-razes-15-houses-in-bilibid

A fire razed 15 houses in New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation in Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa on Nov. 26. 

According to the Muntinlupa City Fire Station, the blaze started from a house on Balimbing Drive in NBP Reservation at about 10:43 a.m. 

Firefighters raised the first alarm at 10:46 a.m. and the second alarm at 10:57 a.m. The fire was put out at 11:34 a.m. 

The blaze razed 15 houses, affecting 15 families or 45 individuals. Authorities stated that the fire started from the roof of a house but the cause is under investigation.  

At least five fire trucks responded to the incident. 


https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/1/5-year-old-boy-killed-himamaylan-city-fire

A five-year-old boy was killed in a fire that hit a portion of a three-hectare sugarcane plantation in Sitio Mambato, Barangay Tu-oy, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, Nov. 26. 

Fire Officer 1 Michael Bernardo, Himamaylan City Fire Station investigator, said that the fire was reported at around 2:20 p.m. 

Bernardo said the victim sustained second degree burns. 

The victim was taken to a hospital here where he was declared dead. 

The fire left an estimated P300,000 in damage and put out at 4:24 p.m. No other structures were involved. 

Bernardo said that the cause of fire is still under investigation. It is unclear yet why the victim was in the area during the fire.

 

Two women were injured while 500 families were displaced by a fire that razed 250 houses in Barangay 310, Sta. Cruz, Manila, on Wednesday night, Nov. 27, until Thursday morning, Nov. 28.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Marina Lagrimas, 69, suffered second-degree and first-degree burns, while Janine Trinio, 25, was treated for breathing difficulty.

BFP reported that the fire was raised to first alarm at 9:41 p.m. and to second alarm at 9:46 p.m.

Some roads near the incident were temporarily closed to give way for the water hose and incoming fire trucks.  

BFP raised the fire to fifth alarm at 10:25 p.m. as it rapidly spread and was reportedly fueled by the explosion of several LPG tanks.

Fire officials were able to put the blaze under control at 1:49 a.m. on Thursday, but it was not fully extinguished at 6:24 a.m.

Based on the initial investigation, the incident caused an estimated P3.75 million in damages.

Local authorities evacuated 500 families or around 1,500 individuals and gave them hot meals.


https://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/fire-hits-4-houses-in-bacolod

At least four houses were razed by fire at Purok Masinadyahon, Barangay Pahanocoy, Bacolod City, on Wednesday evening, November 27.

City Fire Marshal Superintendent Jenny Mae Masip said yesterday the fire started at the two-story house owned by Regina Pagunsan at about 9:25 p.m.

The fire immediately spread to other houses that were made of light materials.

Masip said a total of three houses were destroyed and one house was damaged.

She said they had difficulty penetrating the area because of the narrow passageways and that it was also challenging to use the water hose to reach the affected area.

The fire was put out at about 9:55 p.m. and destroyed at least P229,770 worth of properties.

Investigation showed the fire started on the second floor of Pagunsan’s house due to an overheated home appliance.

Masip said Pagunsan and her family were not around when the fire incident happened.

Before leaving the house, she said the family members failed to unplug the laptop inside the room of Pagunsan's child.


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/609088/fire-burns-down-60-houses-in-talisay-city-cebu

A total of 60 houses were burned down as a result of a fire that hit Brgy. Cansolong in Talisay City, Cebu on Friday morning, November 29.

The blaze also destroyed properties estimated to be worth P337,500, according to authorities.

Fire Officer (FO2) Mardee Auxtero, an investigator from the Talisay City Fire Station, said that the fire was reported to them at around 10:34 a.m.

Less than five minutes later or at 10:38 a.m., the fire was raised to the first alarm. It then reached the second alarm at 10:42 p.m.

It did not take long for firefighters to put the flames under control at 11:11 p.m.

By 11:29 p.m., authorities officially declared a fire out.

According to Auxtero, the blaze started from the house of residents Bernard and Crescencia Fortes. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or casualties due to the incident. 

That is 24 reported incidents for November. Remember, these are only the major fires reported in the national media. Residential fires are up all across the nation and they do not all make the news. This is the tip of the iceberg concerning the real situation in the Philippines. 

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Isla Puting Bato Fire Survivors Are VERY Resilient

It's time for another tale of "Filipino Resilience." This episode of "Filipino Resilience" is brought to you by neighborly kindness and good governance. A massive fire in Tondo destroyed 1,000 houses leaving 5,000 individuals and 2,000 families suddenly homeless. Here is a picture of the destruction.


In the Western World if your house burns down you find a temporary place to stay while you sort out the insurance and what not. That's not what these 5,000 people will be doing. Instead, just a month before Christmas, they are suddenly homeless and destitute. Thousands have been crammed into emergency evacuation centers as they contemplate their futures.

But don't feel bad for these people. They are resilient. Let's take a look at how resilient they are. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/25/from-rubble-to-resilience-isla-puting-bato-fire-victims-fight-to-rebuild-their-lives

Despite losing everything in a massive fire that tore through Isla Puting Bato, the survivors remain determined to rise from the ashes and rebuild their homes and hope.

Isla Puting Bato is crowded community in Tondo, Manila, where houses were constructed from light, highly flammable materials, which allowed the flames to spread rapidly, triggering the highest fire alert level. 

Firefighters battled the blaze for six hours, leaving 1,000 houses in ashes and over 5,000 residents, or approximately 2,000 families, homeless. 

The blaze reached Task Force Charlie and by the time it was contained, much of the community had been reduced to ash.

In the aftermath of the disaster, survivors have been left to cope with the physical and emotional toll of the fire.

Many have lost everything—homes, personal belongings, and the means to rebuild their lives. 

The fire victims have been temporarily evacuated to the Delpan Sports Complex, where they are being housed in cramped conditions, without adequate privacy or basic resources.

For many, the simplest tasks—bathing, dressing, eating—have become overwhelming challenges in the face of scarce resources and limited facilities at the evacuation center.

The residents of Isla Puting Bato, who once lived in close-knit, informal communities, have now found themselves in a temporary shelter with little more than the clothes on their backs. Families have been forced to adapt to a new way of life—one of uncertainty and hardship. 

Collectively these 5,000 people are now struggling to complete the simplest of tasks such as bathing and eating because of the scarce resources and limited facilities at the evacuation center. Needless to say with 5,000 people social services are pressed to the breaking point. 

However, as the article says, "the survivors remain determined to rise from the ashes and rebuild their homes and hope." These people have also lost all material possessions including "the means to rebuild their lives" but what does that matter when you have hope?

As long as they have hope the dream to rebuild houses which are "constructed from light, highly flammable materials, which allowed the flames to spread rapidly, triggering the highest fire alert level" remains alive. 

Being resilient does not mean you are alone. Thankfully this is a tight-knit community who looks out for each other.  

Nida, 38, single mother of two, said she left her children inside their house when she went to a nearby market to buy food. 

She said she was not able to return to her house because the fire department did not allow her.

Just when she thought her children were trapped inside their burning house, she found them with her neighbors.

She said she was not able to save anything except the clothes they were wearing at the time.

With no homes to return to, many are reliant on donations from local charities, government agencies, and generous citizens to meet their basic needs.

Thank goodness a neighbor noticed Nida's two young children were home alone and saved them from the conflagration. 

Along with neighborly kindness comes the paternal hand of the government. 

With no homes to return to, many are reliant on donations from local charities, government agencies, and generous citizens to meet their basic needs.

In the wake of the tragedy, the local government has pledged to assist the displaced families of Isla Puting Bato with both immediate relief and long-term recovery plans. 

According to local officials, hot meals are being regularly provided to the affected families, while efforts are underway to provide clothes and financial assistance.

The government has announced plans to build more sustainable housing for the victims, with priority given to those who lost their homes in the fire. 

More discussions are being held with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to facilitate the rebuilding of homes, as well as the provision of health services, livelihood programs, and psychosocial support for those affected.

As the survivors of Isla Puting Bato begin the slow process of rebuilding their lives, the question remains: How do people who have so little, recover from losing everything? 

Despite repeated fire over the years, the community's resilience will undoubtedly play a key role in their recovery, but the support of the government, as well as ongoing aid from local citizens and organizations, will be crucial in helping these families regain a sense of stability and hope. 

This Christmas, despite everything they lost, the residents of Isla Puting Bato stand united in their unwavering determination to move forward, no matter the odds.

The government says they will help these people rebuild "more sustainable housing" "with priority given to those who lost their homes in the fire." I am sure that means 5,000 people will be given priority. 

There have been repeated fires over the years no doubt due to all the house being "constructed from light, highly flammable materials." In 2012 the government forbade residents from rebuilding. 

A scuffle broke out on Thursday on Isla Puting Bato in Tondo, Manila, between the victims of Friday’s fire and teams from the Philippine Ports Authority after the latter barred the residents from rebuilding their homes on government-owned property.

The May 11 fire displaced more than 5,000 people at the slum community, which falls under PPA’s jurisdiction. They were briefly given shelter at the Del Pan sports complex and were told by City Hall about a relocation site awaiting them in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

But some residents left the gym on Thursday and started bringing construction materials to Isla Puting Bato to rebuild their homes—only to see the barriers put up by the PPA to keep them out of the site.

About 50 people breached the fences Thursday. Some were pushed back by PPA security guards but others got through and went on to salvage anything useful from the ruins.

In an interview, Ricardo de Guzman, chief of staff of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, said the PPA had sought City Hall’s help in preventing the residents from returning to the site, citing “safety issues.”

The agency was concerned that PPA facilities “not designed for residential uses” might end up being occupied, De Guzman said.

The PPA also noted that, lacking a sewerage system, the informal settlers also “significantly contribute to the pollution in Manila Bay.”

De Guzman said the decision to keep the fire victims out was PPA’s call. “We can only appeal to the National Housing Authority for immediate relocation of the victims,” he said.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/195339/victims-of-tondo-fire-barred-from-rebuilding

But it appears this time the government will assist these people in rebuilding their homes on government property with no sewage systems so they can continue to pollute Manila Bay.

Perhaps others will be relocated. This also happened after the 2012 fire. 

https://www.rappler.com/video/documentaries/16036-danger-zone/

“We had no choice,” said Evelyn Dagotgot, one of the survivors of a fire in Isla Puting Bato that dislocated 5,000 Tondo residents last May.

Evelyn’s destroyed home in Manila was on the breakwater in a “danger zone,” and her family was prohibited from returning to rebuild. Against their better judgment, they accepted the National Housing Authority’s (NHA) relocation offer. They were even shown the home beforehand. 

“The site they showed us was not the actual site where we were relocated,” said Evelyn in Filipino. Instead, they ended up in faraway  Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), Rizal.

“We wondered why it was next to a river,” said Evelyn.

Several months later, Evelyn was awoken by her neighbor pounding on her door. Unknown to Evelyn, the Wawa dam had overflowed from the Habagat rains.

“There was no no advance warning, not even by megaphone. If our neighbor had not woken us up, we would have had no idea what was going on.” said Evelyn.

“My husband would have no family to return to if we were swept away by the flood,” said Evelyn. “That’s how sad it could have been.”

Rodriguez lies in a geo-hazard zone. If a 7-9-magnitude earthquake hits, all buildings in the vicinity are expected to collapse. When asked why the NHA selected the site to resettle informal settlers, a staff member of the  Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office noted that the last geo-hazard study was conducted in 2002.

It is not entirely clear who is to blame for selecting a geo-hazard zone as the destination for up to 70,000 resettled informal settlers.

Rodriguez municipal administrator Pascual de Guzman described the role that the municipality plays in the relocation process. “The local government has nothing to do with the choice of relocatees, or with the choice of the developer, the choice of site, it is all the national government.”

Whether these resilient Filipinos are relocated to a dangerous flood zone or a geo-hazard zone or rebuild their homes in a breakwater danger zone with the help of the government one thing is certain. They have hope and the "unwavering determination to move forward, no matter the odds."