Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Jessie Cruzat

ABS-CBN News

In a cramped space along NIA Road in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City, the family of 33-year-old Bernadette Llantos now struggles to get by. Under a makeshift shelter made only of tarpaulin and patched cardboard, Bernadette and her four children try to rebuild their lives alongside the few belongings they managed to save. Her family is just one of thousands who lost their homes after a fire broke out in their community on March 6.<div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/12/quezon-city-to-build-vertical-housing-for-families-displaced-by-nia-road-fire-1422">Quezon City to build vertical housing for families displaced by NIA Road fire</a></div>“Kasi sir malayo po kasi sa school ng mga anak ko tsaka mahirap kasi ‘yong pamasahe… Mahirap din talaga, sir, pero hindi pa naman namin nata-try talaga na totally ‘yong ulan na malakas. ‘Yon din ang kinakabahala namin,” said Llantos, a fire victim. Based on the latest data from Barangay Pinyahan, around 2,800 families have been validated as affected.However, only more than 700 families have been accommodated across about 10 evacuation sites. Maricris Bernardo, an administrator at Barangay Pinyahan, said the local government is doing what it can to assist displaced residents. “Ginagawa po ng paraan ng barangay na mapunta po sila sa evacuation site na dapat. Ayaw naman po namin ng malayo pero wala po kaming mapaglagyan dito sa area kasi halos accommodated na po namin,” Bernardo said.On Friday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed food and non-food items, as well as financial assistance worth P10,000 each, to more than 2,300 affected families.According to DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao, the agency is ready to provide additional support if needed.“As long as the local government unit would require augmentation support from the DSWD nakahanda naman po kami na mag-provide because we have prepositioned goods and standby funds na maaari po nating gamitin,” Dumlao said.The Quezon City government has also begun distributing rental subsidies to displaced residents.But some victims say finding a place to rent remains a major challenge. “Ang suliranin namin, bale ‘yong sa bahay, hirap na hirap kaming maghanap ng mauupahan namin. May makita, ang mahal naman… Kahit maliit man lang, okay na sa amin,” said fire victim Esteban Barrita. Because of this, some residents, like Roy Daque, said they have no choice but to sleep inside the burned-out units they once rented.“Mahirap talaga kami dito kasi maalikabok. Pag umulan, basa kami lahat pati gamit namin tapos ‘yong hanapbuhay namin, na-stop,” Daque said. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/8/fire-breaks-out-in-residential-area-in-pasig-1941">Fire breaks out in residential area in Pasig </a></div>Meanwhile, the city’s Quezon City Housing Community Development and Resettlement Department has released plans to construct six vertical housing buildings in the area.The project is expected to provide more than 2,000 housing units for fire victims and is targeted for completion by December 2027.Meanwhile, some residents are calling on the city government to ensure transparency in the project.“‘Yong masterlist kung sino-sino ‘yong mga beneficiaries. ‘Yon din naman ang kailangan ng mga tao. Para fair, nakikita rin nila kung sino ‘yong co-owner, sino yong renter, sino ‘yong sharer,” said resident Maje Uyboco. Affected residents are also appealing for donations such as clothing, medicine, and food as they continue to recover from the incident.<div> </div>

In a cramped space along NIA Road in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City, the family of 33-year-old Bernadette Llantos now struggles to get by.

In a cramped space along NIA Road in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City, the family of 33-year-old Bernadette Llantos now struggles to get by.

Hundreds of families still in evacuation sites after massive fire in Pinyahan, Quezon City

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Hundreds of families still in evacuation sites after massive fire in Pinyahan, Quezon City

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 14, 2026 11:01 PM PHT

Read More:

Fire

evacuation sites

Pinyahan

Quezon City

donation

NIA Road

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