ZAMBOANGA CITY — The regional government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said it has mobilized its resources to provide assistance to the thousands of residents displaced by the almost 10-hour fire that hit a densely-populated area in Jolo, Sulu, on Tuesday.
Led by Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman, the ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (ARMM-HEART) flew to Jolo on Wednesday and distributed relief goods to the displaced residents.
Amir Mawallil, ARMM’s Bureau of Public Information (ARMM-BPI) director, said the regional government has provided initial financial assistance of PHP1,000, 25 kilos of rice and other food supplies, to every family.
Mawallil said that about 5,000 families with more than 30,000 dependents were displaced by the fire.
Jolo Mayor Kerkhar Tan earlier disclosed the fire broke out shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday in one of the houses in Barangay Bus-bus. The fire spread towards Barangays Walled City and Lambayong and razed about 2,600 houses.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the blaze was put out before midnight, adding that the total damage has yet to be determined.
“We are currently monitoring the situation on the ground as we continue to assess immediate needs and mobilize resources for our brothers and sisters in Sulu,” Mawallil said.
“Let us keep the people of Sulu in our prayers, as we work together to help them through this difficult time,” he added.
He said that additional relief goods for the fire victims was airlifted by a C-130 cargo plane on Wednesday afternoon from Cotabato City.
He said the distribution of the relief assistance was undertaken in coordination with ARMM’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-ARMM), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-ARMM), as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
