Employees seek assistance, jobs after Gaisano Mall fire

Employees of Gaisano Mall in General Santos City have to bear the long lines at the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) office on Friday to avail of the disaster assistance family access card, according to the 24 Oras report of Vonne Aquino.

The employees are now jobless after the mall was gutted by fire on Wednesday.   They are appealing for assistance to be able to work again.

"We are doing this because we want to determine the number of workers na naapektuhan kung paano natin sila mabibigyan ng tulong ng hindi lang palliative intervention but for possible job placement," Arabecque Batilong, assistant department head, of CSWD-GenSan said.

Depending on their assessment, the CSWD also said they are mulling over recommending to the local government to give cash assistance to those who lost their jobs.

Jessa Delumbar, a Gaisano Mall sales lady, was one of those who availed of the card, hoping to be able to work again to provide for the needs of her children.

"Basta ang hirap kasi magmove on eh kasi isang iglap lang po nawalan na din kami ng trabaho. Kailangan din namin ng tulong," said Delumbar.

Shocked                                                              

Other employees said they could not move on yet.

“Sobrang sakit. Sakit nakaka-shock... Nakakaiyak tingnan ganu'n na 'yung nangyari," said a female employee.

"Mga memories man. Mahirap kalimutan. Sobra, 'yung mga item namin nakakamiss," another female employee said.

Memories of fear experienced by the earthquake and the fire were still fresh in their memories.

"Basta lahat po kaming empleyado tumakbo papunta ng exit namin... Takot, nahihilo," said Delumbar.

"Lumabas kami fire exit kami lahat nataranta kaming lahat... Sana makabalik pa yung G mall," said a female employee.

"Makabangon pa 'yung G mall... Kasi kahit ganyan 'yung G mall marami kaming naipundar," another female employee said.

GMA News is still trying to get the statement of the management of the Gaisano mall regarding the incident. —Jamil Santos/LDF, GMA News