Philippines – Don Bosco Pasil affected by Fire

15 January 2018

(ANS – Cebu) – Fire broke out at 12:26 PM of Sunday, January 14, just about 600 meters from the Don Bosco Youth and Training Center, Pasil. Barangay (village) Pasil is one of the poorest and most heavily populated sections of Cebu City. It took more than two hours for the firefighters to control the conflagration. Fire fighters declared the fire under control by 2:54 PM, Sunday. 

The fire's official minimum toll thus far: 3,260 persons, 634 families and 283 houses have been affected, with the majority of homes completely burnt, and four people presumed dead. A portion of Don Bosco Youth Training center was damaged – the rooms of some of the Salesians, their private chapel and the roof of the rectory and training center.

The Salesians have been working at this site for about 50 years, administering the Parish of St. Nino (population of 50,000), the Youth Center - Oratory, the Vocation Training Center, and variety of social services to the local population.

The Rector Fr. Lamberto Paradiang SDB, together with four other Salesians present at the site of the blaze, were forced to evacuate. They took refuge in the building of St. Nino Parish. They are now back supervising relief and assistance efforts to the fire victims and have opened the Youth Center facilities to the families who have lost everything.

The SALVO team of Fr. Arvin Abatayo, SDB, and the Youth Ministry Commission of the FIS Province under Fr. Joriz Calsa, SDB, have started to organize emergency assistance and have called for public support via social media.

The Salesians of Pasil are grateful for everyone’s prayers and support. The rebuilding of nearby houses and the SDB community will start soon, hopefully also with your help!

Inquiries for donations and assistance can be made through: http://dbfis.org/ - https://www.facebook.com/SDBFIS/ 

Fr. Lamberto Paradiang, SDB – Tel: (+63 917 625 3787)

Salesian (FIS) Provincial House, Tel: (+63 32 346 5766)

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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