Iriga City – Today, February 2, 2024, at past midnight, a fire razed the Iriga City Public Market affecting 109 commercial stalls and five residential houses, leaving five families displaced.

Initial reports from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Iriga indicated that no injuries were reported, but the blaze prompted authorities to elevate the alert level to 4. The Iriga City Bureau of Fire Protection is currently carrying out an in-depth investigation of the incident to determine the extent and source of the damage.

Affected families were temporarily housed at the Barangay San Francisco Evacuation and Day Care Centers, where they received immediate relief aid from DSWD FO V’s Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD).

On the instruction of DSWD FO V Regional Director Norman Laurio, DRMD Chief Claudio Villareal Jr. immediately delivered the relief assistance and supervised the distribution of 228 family food packs and essential non-food items, amounting to ₱193,037.70, to assist those impacted by the incident.

Additionally, the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Team, alongside the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and DSWD City Action Team (CAT), conducted thorough assessments for the immediate provision of financial assistance to displaced families and stall owners. DSWD Bicol will also be providing recovery and rehabilitation assistance of their livelihood under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the department.

DSWD Bicol also extended relief assistance to six families affected by separate fire incidents in various municipalities of Camarines Sur and Albay earlier this week.###