Talisay to have new fire marshal

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City will soon have a new fire marshal given that Fire Marshal Felipe Canillas will be retiring this July.

Canillas, who serves as head of the city's fire department for the last 11 years, will turn 56 this July 15, the mandatory retirement age for firemen.

Canillas said among those considered to take his place are Supt. Virginia Toledo, Bureau of Fire Protection 7's chief of operations, and Supt. Roy Orbeta, chief of the Danao City Fire Department.

Apart from serving Talisay, Canillas is also BFP 7's operations officer. But that too has to go after July 15.

During his 11 years as fire marshall, Talisay City was awarded as the "Best City Fire Station Of The Year" in the region 2005.

Its substation in barangay Poblacion also received the "Best Substation" award in 2009.

Canillas also bagged a number of regional awards such as the best city fire marshall of the year (2009) and Jr. Fire Officer of the Year (2005), among others.

With his achievements and experience in risk reduction and management, Vice Mayor Alan Bucao is contemplating hiring Canillas as one of the consultants for the city's disaster risk reduction and management program.

Canillas would then be teamed up with its present consultant, former Councilor Ben Abatayo.

"How I wish for Sir Canillas to be in the team because we know he's good at that," said Bucao.

It is Mayor Socrates Fernandez who hires his team of consultants, and it is the council that ratifies the appointments.