In the afternoon of February 4, 2024, a fire broke out and gutted a residential area in Upper Katipunan, Purok 1, Barangay Mansasa, Tagbilaran City. Twenty-seven families or 85 individuals lost their homes without salvaging anything. Tzu Chi Bohol volunteers and staff immediately mobilized the following day and
proceeded to the fire site and at the evacuation center to assess the needs of the affected families.
During the fire site survey, Tzu Chi volunteers saw 56-year-old Estrella Bazarte in tears while she looks on to where her house and “sari-sari” store use to stand. She is from Catigbian, Bohol and had just moved to Tagbilaran along with her husband who works as a tricycle driver in hopes for them to save up for her gallstone surgery.
“I am very saddened because everything I had acquired from Manila to run my small store was destroyed (by the fire), not a single item was spared except for the clothes I am wearing today. I still find it hard to believe. How do I rebuild and start all over again?” the distraught Estrella said.
Meanwhile, the Tzu Chi volunteers and staff were preparing for the relief distribution later that afternoon. Tzu Chi brought 4 portable toilets for the fire victims to use for the duration of their stay at the evacuation center.
Mansasa Barangay Captain Arvin Visarra lauded the timely and fast response of Tzu Chi Bohol to disasters and calamities. “Tzu Chi is a strong support (group) to individuals in need of assistance,” he said.
Tzu Chi volunteers held a small program to introduce the Tzu Chi Foundation to the fire victims along with offering words of comfort to uplift their dispirited mood then afterwards, the relief effort was undertaken where each of the 27 families received 20 kilos of rice, dining utensils (drinking cups, spoon, and fork), casserole, the Tzu Chi thermal blanket, a local blanket, slippers, and clothing.
“The help of Tzu Chi is greatly valued. Especially for the pots that allow us to cook, table utensils for us to eat and the blankets to warm us,” the now more cheerful Estrella said.
