Quezon City launches fire prevention caravan

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government will launch this week its community-based fire awareness campaign, which aims to educate the residents on basic fire prevention measures.

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, who pushed for the caravan following successive fire incidents in the city, said seminars would be conducted in different barangays every week to tackle fire awareness and electrical safety tips.

Representatives from the city’s disaster risk reduction and management council, social services development department, Philippine Red Cross, Bureau of Fire Protection and Manila Electric Co. will conduct the seminars.

“I thought of doing this because almost every day we hear of fire incidents in the city. The number of fires that struck Quezon City in the past months is unusual,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte stressed the importance of awareness to prevent fires.

She said fire incidents could be avoided if the people know the dangers of illegal electrical connections and other fire hazards.

The vice mayor also lamented internal administrative problems that slow down the release of financial assistance to fire victims.

“I received a report that you need 16 signatures before fire victims get financial assistance. We should remove 15 of those so we can immediately release the aid to those who need it,” Belmonte said.

At least 450 families were left homeless when a fire hit Barangay San Antonio on Tuesday.