SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Antique provincial office on Tuesday underscored the role of information officers in the awareness campaign to curb the number of fire incidents this year.
During a briefing on fire prevention attended by the Antique Association of Information Officers (AAIO), Senior Fire Officer 4 Alex L. Ortiaga said the AAIO could help in disseminating information to the public.
“We need to sustain the awareness campaign,”Ortiaga said.
Information officers learned about the progressive stages of burning from incipient or beginning up to the smoldering phases of a fire.
They were also briefed about the different kinds of fire extinguishers and how to use them.
“Always look for the Certificate of Competency when buying fire extinguisher,” Ortiaga said.
He said the certificate is issued by the BFP as proof that the brand of fire extinguisher meets the safety standards.
In an interview at the sidelines of the orientation, Ortiaga said they look forward to see all 18 towns of the province of Antique having their own fire stations.
The remaining five towns of the province are ready to provide the lots where BFP fire stations will be built.
Ortiaga said once the fund is downloaded by their central office, the fire station project can already start in the towns of Aniniy, Hamtic, Barbaza, Tibiao and Caluya. Each fire station gets PHP7.2 million allocation.
“We are just waiting for the allocation,” Ortiaga said.
He said the other 13 towns in the province already have their fire stations.
“The local government unit counterpart is the lot while for the BFP is the funding for the fire station,” he said.
He said the BFP is asking for about 400 square meter lot from the LGU for the fire station. The lack of available lot causes delay in the construction of fire stations in these five towns, he added.
Meanwhile, Ortiaga said Antique’s capital town San Jose de Buenavista is a recipient of a new Rosenbauer fire truck from the BFP, bringing to six the total fire trucks at the provincial capital
“With the new fire truck, San Jose de Buenavista is now better equipped in responding to fire incidents,”Ortiaga said.
Two of the fire trucks are owned by the local government unit, one by the Antique Chamber of Commerce and the rest are by the BFP.(Annabel Consuelo Petinglay/PNA)
