BFP gets first woman general

President Arroyo has recently approved the promotion of three Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) officials to the rank of general.

The three new one-star generals are Chief Superintendent Carlito Romero, Chief Superintendent Ruben Bearis Jr. and Chief Superintendent Nimfa Cuartel – the first woman general in the BFP.

Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus formally sworn into office the three newly promoted officials during a simple oath-taking ceremony at the DILG main office in Quezon City.

President Arroyo signed the promotion of the three officials upon the recommendation of DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno as endorsed by the DILG Placement and Selection Board.

Cuartel, the incumbent BFP director for administration, became the first woman general of the bureau. She started as a policewoman from the defunct Philippine Constabulary/Integrated National Police and later opted to transfer to the BFP, where she rose from the ranks.

She has been in the public service for 23 years now.

Romero, on the other hand, is a law graduate and a licensed electrical engineer. He also earned his Master of Public Management Degree from the Central College of the Philippines. He is also a recipient of several awards, including an Outstanding Fire Marshall when he was in Quezon City.

Bearis has pioneered a number of programs in the BFP for the benefit of the bureau and firemen. The ongoing construction of the BFP-National Capital Region repeater system and the interfacing activity with the different fire stations in the region were two of his notable projects.

Bearis was able to acquire radio equipment through fund-raising activities. – Cecille Suerte Felipe