By Gail Momblan/PNA
ILOILO CITY — The Bureau of Fire Protection in Region 6 (BFP-6) is working to ensure fire safety in every community.
BFP personnel started visiting and informing communities of its campaign, under the BFP’s “Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan” early this February, said Supt. Crosbee Gumowang, Assistant Regional Director for Operations of BFP-6, in a phone interview on Monday.
Four categories are under the “Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan” – the “handang pamayanan (ready community),” “bayanihan” (cooperative undertaking), “kaagapay” (companion), and “lingap” (protective care).
Under the handang pamayanan, a community fire protection plan is established to identify the hazard areas, and such plan is laid out in case of fire incidents.
“Our BFP personnel will present the fire protection plan to our village heads. The village heads will sign a form to prove that they were made aware of what to do in case of fire,” Gumowang said.
When a certain barangay, for example, failed to organize the community’s car parking to give way to responding fire trucks, the village head will be held liable, he said.
“Because they already signed an agreement with the BFP that they will clear any obstruction that will cause delay to our fire trucks,” he added.
The bayanihan focuses on neighborhood initiative in creating fire plans, while the kaagapay gives emphasis to the capacity building of firemen.
Lingap, on the other hand, will recognize villages that “conduct intensive house to house fire safety surveys in densely populated neighborhood, resettlements, and fire-prone areas,” Gumowang said.
“The region will award the barangay with a bayanihan seal at the end of the year,” he added.
Gumowang assured that firefighters in the region are highly capable. They are also provided sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE).
Meanwhile, the BFP-6 continues its appeal to the public to practice fire safety at home.
“Every household should have a fire exit plan. Securing your home with numerous locks is not advisable. It surely can save you from thieves but it can endanger you and your family in case of fire,” he said.
The bureau is currently preparing its fire safety education-information materials for intensive information dissemination drive for the 2019 Fire Prevention Month.
