City to give fire extinguishers to all barangays

CEBU, Philippines - As part of its effort to strengthen disaster preparedness in the city, the Cebu City government will distribute fire extinguishers to all the 813 chapels in the barangays of the city.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council head Nagiel Bañacia said the project to have two fire extinguishers in chapels came from the Bureau of Fire and Protection-7 and the Cebu City Fire Marshal, following the idea of Mayor Tomas Osmeña to provide extinguishers to barangays to prevent fires.

"Huge, destructive fires hitting especially the depressed areas of the City of Cebu could have been mitigated or even prevented had all the constituents owned fire extinguishers at home as their first line of defense. But such assumption is farfetched due to the fact that fire extinguishers are not that affordable to the general public," the project proposal reads.

Yesterday, BFP-7 planning officer, Dr. Annyl Capatoy, went to the City Hall to hand over the project proposal to Bañacia.

Capatoy said his office sent the project proposal to Cebu City Fire Marshal Chief Inspector Rogelio Bongabong, Jr.

"The project is dubbed as 3K or Kapilya Kontra Kalayo, wherein chapel organizations should appoint fire volunteers who will maintain and monitor the fire extinguishers," the project proposal reads.

A total of 1,626 fire extinguishers will be distributed to the 813 chapels. Each fire extinguisher has an estimated price of P3,400 each and the project will have a budget of P5.5 million.

Bañacia said the proposal will be forwarded to the mayor for his approval.

He said the city will bid out the procurement of fire extinguishers to get a lower price.

Under the proposed mechanics, BFP-Cebu City will supervise and control the distribution of the fire extinguishers.

All fire extinguishers must bear the official logo of the city government, and a distinct control number, separate from other chapels.

"Use of the units and refilling of the same should be supported with after fire operation report. Before the distribution of the fire extinguishers, there must be lecture or seminar conducted on the proper handling or operation of the fire extinguisher to the chapel presidents and their staff," the proposal reads.

All chapel presidents or their staff must report to the BFP, through sub-stations, if the fire extinguishers are used during fire alarms.

Capatoy recalled fire extinguishers were distributed before, but was not maintained because of lack of monitoring.

Bañacia said this program will also help the city's disaster team, especially in fire prevention.

"Fire prevention man ni, number one, identified naman ning lugara. Unahon ang urban, mga slum areas, kanang mga highly susceptible sa fire. Before sa distribution, there must be an organization sa kapilya," he said.

Each chapel organization should appoint a fire volunteer who will be responsible for the fire units. The fire volunteer should undergo training under BFP.

"The purpose kay first line of defense against fire kay dinhi sa city pinakadako nga damage when we talk about sa disaster is number one is fire, next na ang floods, landslide," Bañacia said.

He said this is also in line with the thrust of the CCDRRMC that disaster prevention and management should start in the family.

Bañacia said he will forward the project proposal to the Office of the Mayor so that the city can procure the units this year.

He said the city has at least P300 million in disaster fund, where they can charge the budget in the procurement.

Osmeña earlier expressed his intention to distribute fire extinguishers to chapels in all barangays of the city to cut down the number of fire incidents.

"We will find out if they (associations) are disciplined enough and we will leave a very big fire extinguisher there. So, if somebody's room starts to burn, they don't have to call the fire department. They only have to get the fire extinguisher," he earlier said. (FREEMAN)