BAGUIO CITY – The swift response of the city government and partner line agencies and private volunteers to calamities was highlighted anew in the fire incident at the Maharlika Livelihood Complex on July 16, 2024.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that in less than 36 hours after the fire, the burned area at the third floor of the Marbay Building has been cleared and cleaned up allowing 99 percent of business establishments to resume operations.
Aside from immediately addressing the plight of the affected entrepreneurs, the city ensured that speedy assistance was extended to the management of the Maharlika Livelihood Center in its post-fire rehabilitation.
The mayor called an emergency meeting early morning of July 16, 2024 for a cohesive post-incident management action plan before teams from the different offices and agencies were deployed for the clearing operations.
The mayor said that as of 7 p.m. of the same day, lights had been restored and sewer lines had been installed in the affected portion.
City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña said a hammer test was conducted by a private firm on the slabs to determine the structural integrity of the building.
The test was free of charge to the city government.
“We still have challenges in our disaster response capability particularly in logistics like we still lack communication equipment and large fire trucks so we have address them to improve our capacity,” the mayor said.
Baguio City Fire Station Fire Marshal F Supt. Marisol Odiver said the incident was reported at 1:08 a.m. and was suppressed at 4:20 a.m.
The affected site measured 140 square meters occupied by stalls at the third floor at the parking area.
She said electrical wirings and ash debris were already sent to the Arson Laboratory and they are still waiting for the results as of press time.
“The Bureau of Fire Protection had already issued Property Recovery Clearing Permit while witnesses had been given invitation to visit the station to give their statements,” Odiver said.
The Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Officer led by Department Head Liza Bulayungan had immediately worked out the assistance to the affected entrepreneurs numbering 14 (six lessees and eight workers).
The fire victims received P84,000 financial assistance from the city government and another P95,000 financial aid and P30,576 food assistance from the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Baguio’s Bravest (BFP), Baguio’s Finest (BCPO-PNP), CDRRMO, POSD, Navy Reservists, SK and other youth volunteers, Filipino Chinese Fire Brigade, GSO, CBAO, CEPMO, technical team of CADMO, BENECO, BWD, 911, volunteers among the entrepreneurs/vendors and most especially to the management of Maharlika and Marbay Center,” the mayor said.