Banago seeking
state of calamity
BY SHEILA G. GELERA & CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The Barangay Council of Brgy. Banago Bacolod City, passed a resolution Wednesday requesting the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod to declared Banago under a state of calamity.

Two hundred six houses were hit by fire in two puroks of Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City on Wednesday, and not 234 as earlier reported, Chief Insp. Bartolome Beliran, Bacolod fire marshal corrected yesterday.

The damage from the blaze, Beliran said, has already reached P3.7 million, and this includes 97 destroyed and 109 damaged houses.

Another fire hits Estefania
BY SHEILA G. GELERA

Another fire hit four houses in Purok Pag-asa, Brgy. Estefania in Bacolod City, several hours after the blaze in Brgy. Banago that burned 206 houses Wednesday.

Fire Officer 3 Cornelio Silva, Bacolod Bureau of Fire investigator, said two houses were destroyed and two were damaged when fire believed caused by an unattended kerosene lamp, broke out at about 10:30 p.m.

There were no injuries or fatalities reported but the damages were estimated to be P60,000, Silva said.

US envoy airs concern
for Bacolod blaze victims
BY CARLA GOMEZ

US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. yesterday expressed concern for the fire victims in Barangay Banago, Bacolod, and said his government will consider providing assistance.

Thomas, who was in Negros Occidental on a private visit, told the DAILY STAR that, “if the Philippine government asked for assistance, we would consider it.”

He said the Philippines, or the city government, has to follow a formal mechanism for making the request, through the National Economic and Development Authority.