Quezon City to hold fire prevention caravan

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government will hold a fire prevention caravan next month ahead of the Fire Prevention Month activities in March.

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte said her office would partner with various agencies, including the city’s disaster risk reduction and management office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Red Cross as well as the Manila Electric Co. for the caravan.

“We do not want to offer band aid solutions to fire incidents in the city. Relief operations and financial assistance can help, but these do not totally solve the problem,” Belmonte said. 

“We have to teach fire prevention measures to the people so our communities can reduce the risks of experiencing this kind of disaster,” she added.

Belmonte said they have identified communities that recorded the most number of fire incidents in the city.

“Through our intensive information dissemination, we will educate the people to be wary of illegal electric connections, octopus wiring and loading capacity of power outlets, which are the usual causes of fires,” the vice mayor said.

“We are also considering linking them up with housing authorities because these communities are at risk to fire incidents. Maybe we can also do something about constructing fire-proof houses ,” Belmonte added.