For 13 years, Joe Dayaday has been an employee of Gaisano Mall in General Santos City. This has become his source of income to help his family get by.
On Wednesday (October 16), a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck parts of Mindanao which caused a fire at Gaisano Mall.
Huge flames torched the two-hectare mall that night, illuminating the surroundings as if the sun had never set.
It took 18 hours before authorities finally declared the fire out; it was around 1:00 p.m. on Thursday (October 17).
However, the mall was again engulfed in flames on Thursday night, leaving 90 percent of the establishment damaged.
The fire left an estimated P2 billion worth of damage, and that’s not counting the loss of livelihood it has brought to around 2,000 employees in Gaisano Mall.
As authorities finally declared fire out around 10:00 p.m. that Thursday night, uncertainty filled Joe’s heart.
“Maapektuhan talaga ang trabaho namin, marami kamung nagtatrabaho dito na maapektuhan, (Our jobs will be affected, a lot of us working here will be affected)” Joe said.
Uncertainty loomed over the 2,000 employees of Gaisano Mall, among whom is Hanzel Falalimpa.
Hanzel’s husband is currently in the hospital and it is up to her to support her family including her two children.
“Ako lang talaga ang nagtatrabaho sa amin ngayon tapos may dalawang anak pa ako, (I am the only worker in the family and I have two children)” she said. She is now at a loss where to find money for their daily needs and the hospital expenses of her husband.
Meanwhile, Joe is calling out to the government for assistance.
“Ang hiling namin sa pamahalaan sana matulungan kami na makahanap ng trabaho sa ibang kumpanya, (Our wish is for the government to help us find another job in other companies)” he said.
Assistant Department Head of City Social Welfare & Development Office GenSan Arabecque Batilong assured they will provide assistance to the employees affected by the fire.
“We gathered them sa G-Mall almost 2,000 silang empleyado. Mayroong mga ibang agencies whether private or government [that are] willing to employ them (We gathered them in G-Mall, almost 2,000 employees. There are other agencies whether private or government that are willing to employ them)” he said.—AAC (with reports from Janice Ingente)
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