Barangays to get motorcycles after firefighting training

Barangay officials from the different municipalities in the province must undergo training first before they will get the motorcycles that come with complete firefighting equipment promised by the Capitol. Acting Governor Gregorio Sanchez said the initial 50 motorcycles arrived the other day and are up for distribution to the different barangays. However, Sanchez said the provincial government decided to postpone the distribution of said motorcycles, pending the completion of the training on firefighting scheduled this March 10 at the Capitol.

Meanwhile, Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano lauded the Mandauehanons for their "piece in fire prevention, for contributing their share in the 37.5 percent drop of fire incidence in Mandaue City last year which means more jobs, livelihood and better lives and living conditions for Mandauehanons."

In 2004, the City Fire Department recorded 24 alarms that went down to 15 alarms last year. However, estimate losses due to fire went up by 50 percent from P6.4 million in 2004 to P12.6 million last year that could be understood to vary directly with the rise in the cost of properties. "This means that while we had less fires, we had bigger conflagrations to manage last year," Ouano said in his message read by his son and special assistant, Jonkie Ouano. Ouano added that in Mandaue where 10,000 enterprises abound, fire prevention is crucial to the city's effort to an economic takeoff.

"Unless we can protect our industries and businesses, we will not be able to sustain the momentum of growth and stability that we have built for the past several years," Ouano said.

In order to continue this momentum of growth at 12 percent per annum, double that of the national figures, Ouano added that "it is incumbent upon all of the Mandauehanons to protect this by all means, be it by vigilance against preventable disasters such as fire and peace and order."

Also, Ouano congratulated the Mandaue City Fire Station for their "great achievement in contributing to the city's growth with its efficiency in collecting Fire Code fees with an increase of 81 percent from over P355,000 in 2004 to P1.8 million last year." - Jose P. Sollano and Gregg M. Rubio, Correspondent