City of San Fernando, La Union | Fire destroys the City of San Fernando, La Union public wet market dawn of Thursday, 11 January 2024, affecting an estimated 1,500 stall owners and vendors, leaving nothing but ash.

OIC Assistant Regional Director for Operations Anniely J. Ferrer called a meeting to the concerned DSWD Field Office 1 (FO 1) operations Division Chiefs to discuss the possible assistance that the Agency can provide before the Local Government Unit (LGU) of City of San Fernando, La Union’s briefing.

After the said meeting, DSWD FO 1, represented by the OIC-Disaster Response Management Division Chief Maricel S. Caleja, joined the briefing of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of City of San Fernando, La Union officials and other concerned agencies regarding the wet market fire incident.

Initially, the City Social Welfare and Development Office requested augmentation for the assistance of the affected stall owners and vendors. Assessment of data is still ongoing to determine the exact number of affected population and assistance provided to the fire victims to avoid duplication of aid.

City Mayor Hermenegildo A. Gualberto requested the Provincial/City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council members to pray for the fire victims “Let’s pray for the vendors and stall owners who are undergoing struggles this time, tulungan po natin silang magdasal upang maibsan ang kanilang nararamdaman ngayon. Let us show them our love and empathy (Let’s pray for the vendors and stall owners who are undergoing struggles this time, let’s help them pray to ease their feeling now. Let us show them our love and empathy),” he added.

“Awan nabati nga lako mi, amin ket napuoran (We did not have any goods left, everything was consumed by fire)”, was the stall owners and vendors’ statement in distress while the DSWD staff conducted Psychosocial First Aid.

The City Government is currently providing relief items containing 5 cans of tuna, 5 cans of sardines, 4 cans of sausage, 4 cans of meatloaf, 3 kilos of rice, and 1 liter bottled water to the fire victims, while DSWD FO 1 will provide augmentation starting 15 January 2024, Monday, per assessment and agreement with the LGU.

With the help of our partners and LGUs, DSWD vows its commitment to help those in need most especially in times of disaster, dahil #BawatBuhayMahalagaSaDSWD. By: Nicole Kasandra A. Lipawen, Information Officer II – Disaster Response Management Division