By NONOY E. LACSON
ZAMBOANGA CITY – A fire of undetermined origin razed to ground at least two elementary school buildings and close to 60 houses in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi on Monday night.
Arson probers initially placed the amount of damage to properties to be at least P50 million.
Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali reported that a fire of undermined origin broke out at the heavy populated village of Tubig Mampallam in Bongao about 9 p.m. on Monday which rendered 500 residents in the area homeless.
Sahali said two two-storey elementary school buildings were razed to ground including vital government properties inside the structures.
Many of those rendered homeless by the blaze are now housed in some public schools in Bongao while others opted to stay with their relatives in the same town, Sahali said.
The provincial government immediately extended relief assistance to the fire victims, most of whom were living below the poverty level, the provincial chief executive said.
Meanwhile, Sahali thanked Secretary Norberto Gonzales of the Department of National Defense (DND) for immediately extending 300 sacks of government rice for distribution to the affected families in the municipality.
Sahali said the 300 sacks of rice provided by Gonzales will be a big help for the provincial government in its relief efforts.
He said the government rice will be distributed to the affected families once the National Food Authority (NFA) in Bongao will release the supply.
http://www.mb.com.ph