PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Firefighters in this province are set to receive new personal protection equipment (PPE) for use in carrying out their duties, Superintendent Catalino Ramos, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Palawan director, said Thursday.
Aside from the PPE, several municipal fire protection offices (MFPOs) in the province will also receive 216 yellow double jacket fire hoses with aluminum NST couplings for fire rescue, he added.
“What you’re seeing is the PPE that some fire personnel lack in the MFPOs in Palawan when we conducted an inspection a few months ago. We have fire boots, helmets, and gloves for hand covering that our firefighters need,” he told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) as he showed the new equipment set for distribution.
The fire hoses will be distributed to the MFPOs in Aborlan, Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, Busuanga, Coron, Culion, Cuyo, Dumaran, Sofronio Española, Narra, Quezon, Rizal, Roxas, Taytay, and also Puerto Princesa.
Ramos said when he visited the MPFOs, he noticed that some PPE and hoses, which are important in firefighting, are already overused, if not lacking in their inventories.
“May mga gulong din at iba pang kailangan ng fire trucks ay naibigay na din. Ang mga fire hoses naluluma yan at yong iba noong dumating ako medyo na-check ko ay sira na. Kailangan natin ng bago para maayos natin na magampanan ang ating trabaho (There were also tires and other materials for firetrucks and they had been distributed already. Fire hoses are now old; when I got here and made a check, I noticed that most of them are no longer functional. We need new ones so we can better do our jobs),” he said.
Ramos said the issuance of the PPE to firefighters is vital in guaranteeing their safety while they perform fire rescue duties.
He added that safety can easily be ensured by having firefighting equipment and proper protection.
“The importance of the equipment is indispensable to ensure maximum protection against fire of the public and those who risk their lives to save others,” he stated.
Ramos said the arrival of the PPE and the other equipment followed the delivery of the PHP17.5-million Rosenbauer firetruck in the first week of July to the fire protection office in Puerto Princesa.
The BFP official appealed to municipal government officials in Palawan to help in equipping the MFPOs as there are many who only have personnel but no firetrucks to use.
“Ang atin ngang pakiusap ay kung puwede tulungan ang ating mga MFPOs dahil marami pa tayo na personnel lang ang meron wala naman fire truck. (our request is for them to help equip our MFPOs because we still have a lot that only has personnel but have no fire trucks) They can also set up their own fire brigade and we can help train firefighters,” he said.
Ramos also also made an appeal to Governor Jose Alvarez and the provincial government to help them find a suitable location for their future PHP9-million office building, as he noted that their current office is not large enough for their supplies and personnel. (Celeste Anna Formoso/PNA)
