BFP-7 needs more firefighters

CEBU, Philippines - At least 60 persons have applied to be firefighters at the Bureau of Fire Protection Region 7 (BFP-7) since the agency announced that it has 122 slots open during the kick-off ceremony for Fire Prevention Month on March 1.

Senior Superintendent Samuel Tadeo, BFP-7 director, told The FREEMAN that the recruitment will help address the agency's problem regarding lack of manpower.

He added that the desired number of firefighters for the whole region is around 2,000 but, at present, BFP-7 only has 1,382 personnel - a shortage of 618 staff.

Pag ma-fill up po namin yung 122, malaking bagay po sa Region 7 in terms po sa personnel strength naming, at mailalagay na namin sila sa mga stations namin na kulang sa personnel," he said.

With the number of recruits, Tadeo said it only goes to show that there are a lot who are interested to become public servants who want to campaign for public safety in the country.

Tadeo hopes that in the following days, more individuals will send in their applications.

Applicants must be college graduates and should have a professional license from the Civil Service Commission. There is also a height requirement: for women 5 ft. 2 in. and for men, 5 ft. 4 in.

Recruitment is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, in Talisay City, Mayor Eduardo Gullas promised the Talisay City Fire Department that repairs will be done on one of the city's ladder-equipped fire trucks.

City Fire Marshal Senior Inspector Joel Abarquez disclosed that the repair of the fire truck would cost at least P380,000  to P480,000.

The fire truck has been in service for more than 10 years and was designed to put out fires in high-rise buildings.

It was given to Talisay City during Gullas' term as Congressman of Cebu's first district.

Abarquez added that out of five city-owned fire trucks, only three of them are presently serviceable.

City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Head Alvin Santillana said the city will also be getting three more fire trucks later this year, with a total cost of P4.5 million.

Funds for these new trucks will be taken from the approved city budget for 2017, as well as from unexpended funds of the Disaster office from the previous years.

These fire trucks are medium-sized and can pass through narrow streets like those in Talisay.

During the kick-off program for Fire Prevention Month, Abarquez said that each constituent must be alert and mindful to prevent any fire incidents, especially since March is the hottest month of the year.

Abarquez added that for the past years, 71 percent of fires in the city are electricity-related.—  /JBB (FREEMAN)