Cebu City gets new fire marshall

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama's personal choice finally assumed office as the new city fire marshall.

Fire superintendent Aderson Comar yesterday assumed office after a simple turn-over of command between him and outgoing city fire marshall Esmael Codilla, who was promoted as deputy regional director for operations.

Rama has long been recommending for Comar's appointment but he could not easily ease out Codilla who is perceived to have enjoyed the political backing of South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña.

Rama challenged Comar to improve the fire fighting performance of the city fire department. But, Codilla believes that the fire fighting equipment should be upgraded for the city firemen to be effective.

"Bisan kinsa pay ibutang nga fire marshall kun kuwang og fire fighting equipment dili g'yud kita makakita'g maayong performance," Codilla said.

According to Codilla, being a highly urbanized, Cebu City needs at least 20 fire trucks but at present the fire department only have nine firetrucks on running condition.

Asked if he is willing to give additional firetrucks to the city fire department, Rama could not give the assurance. The Mayor said it will depend on the availability of the budget.

"Atong tanawon kon duna ba ta'y budget ana," Rama said.

The Department of Interior and Local Government has encouraged local government officials to help the fire department acquire the needed fire fighting equipment. It is not however the responsibility of the local government unit to provide the equipment since the national government through the Bureau of Fire Protection has a budget for it.

But according to the BFP officials the budget that they are getting from the national government is not enough to address the needs.

Comar said he will maximize the existing resources of the fire department pending the needed budget for the additional firetrucks. He assured to improve their performance in responding to any fire alarm.

After the turnover of command yesterday, Comar immediately went to City Hall to pay Rama a courtesy call.

Comar's first order of the day was to identify the fire prone areas in the city and to submit his recommendations on how to be effective in responding to fire alarms.

Rama wants that more fire trucks should be dispatched immediately every time a fire alarm is received regardless of the alarm level.

"Kun daghan nga bombero nga motabang dayon sa sunog dili g'yud ni makadaku," Rama stressed.

Codilla and Comar admitted that the narrow access roads in the barangays is one of their problems in responding to fire alarms especially in the interior areas. (FREEMAN)