As it gears up for Holiday season
TACLOBAN CITY-At least 15 municipalities in the region does not have their own fire stations.
This was disclosed by Fire S/Supt. Randy Mendaros, assistant regional director of the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) in a media interview as their office prepares activities aimed at making the celebration of Christmas and New Year fire incident-free in the region.
Mendaros, however, said that if there are fire incidents in these areas where there are no fire stations and fire equipment, the nearest fire station is to help put out the fire.
These are Maripipi, Biliran; Almagro, Daram, Sto. Nino, Tagapul-an, Talalora, and Zumarraga, all in Samar; Biri, Lapinig, Rosario, San Vicente, and Victoria, all in Northern Samar; Llorente, MacArthur, and Mercedes, all in Eastern Samar.
Eastern Visayas has 136 municipalities and seven cities.
The BFP in the region is gearing up for the Christmas and New Year to help prevent any fire incidents during these occasions.
Mendaros said that the reason why the 15 municipalities do not have their own fire station was due to lack of area where these facilities are to be constructed.
In most cases, it is the concerned local government unit that provides the lot.
“And if they are willing to donate a lot, it turned out the lot is a hazard-prone area,” the BFP official said during the ‘Kapihan sa PIA” held last Tuesday (Dec.5).
Among these LGUs that have donated or agreed to donate a lot where a fire station would be constructed are Maripipi, Daram, Lapinig, Rosario, Victoria, and Llorente.
Mendaros also disclosed that there are only 248 firetrucks across the region of which 27 are not serviceable or under maintenance.
And out of the 769 fire hydrants in the region, he said, 168 of them are not functioning.
Meantime, the BFP in the region is gearing up to ensure that the forthcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations will be free from any fire incidents just like last year.
Among the lined-up activities include information dissemination which involve a house-house campaign, especially in areas considered as ‘red zones’ or where houses mostly made of light materials are located and situated near each other.
Fire trucks will also roam around the streets reminding the public not to use any prohibitive firecrackers that could ignite a fire incident or cause injury to the people.
JOEY A. GABIETA/ ROEL T. AMAZONA
