The Pioneer Fire, Police, Health Chiefs and Judge of Cebu City

When the City of Cebu was inaugurated on February 24, 1937, the President, Manuel L. Quezon, through the recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior, Elpidio Quirino appointed Isidro J. Sison as Cebu City First Fire Chief.

Prior to his appointment as Cebu City Fire Chief Sison he was already 20 years in public service in different capacities as a fireman in Manila. Isidro J. Sison was born on May 5, 1898 he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tranquilino Olivar Sison. He joined the Fire Department in 1917, one of the youngest to be admitted. He served as Lieutenant of the Central Fire Station of Manila. He was the sixth son of the eleven children of his parents.

Fire Chief Sison was suspended by President Manuel L. Quezon for five days. The Administrative Order was issued on January 10, 1940. The cause of his suspension was his failure to settle his obligation with the Firemen's Relief Association of the City of Manila. His obligation commenced on January 1, 1936, he failed to settle this up to 1939, when the Commissioner of Civil Service required Sison to explain his failure to settle his obligation.

The First Police Chief of Cebu City was Segundo G. Vergara born on March 29, 1893 of Mabini, Pangasinan. Vergara was a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1919. He rendered service in the Provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac, Bulacan, Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Negros Occidental, and Leyte.

In 1926, Chief Vergara was in charge of the police reorganization of Iloilo City. He was also Special Representative of the Secretary of the Interior in general and special elections. He was highly commended by the District Commander of the Visayas for successfully maintaining peace and order during the Labor Strike in Cebu City in 1934.

In 1936, Chief Vergara was a student officer of the Special Service School of Infantry in Manila. He was Post Adjutant of the Teacher Trainees in Tacloban, Leyte.  A gun enthusiast, he was a holder of Pistol and Rifle Expert Medals in the Philippine Army and won prizes in the Iloilo Gun Club in 1925 and the Cebu Gun Club in 1934 and 1935.

Cebu City's First Health Officer was from Sta. Cruz, Manila. His name was Dr. Luis B. Gomez, born on October 10, 1888. He finished his Pre-Medicine Course of A.B. Degree from the Ateneo de Manila. Gomez earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Santo Tomas. Prior to his assignment in Cebu, he was Assistant Surgeon in the Philippine Health Service for Calapan, Mindoro, and Masbate.

Dr. Gomez married Manuela Ingreso and they had four children. Dr. Gomez was a golfer and basketball player. Dr. Gomez was reappointed City Health Officer of Cebu City on September 14, 1942.

The First City Judge of Cebu City was Tereso M. Dosdos. He was twice appointed Judge of the Municipal Court of Cebu City by President Manuel L. Quezon.

Atty. Tereso M. Dosdos was Registrar of Deeds of Cebu from 1925 to 1934. He was elected Representative of the old First District of Cebu. Tereso married Filomena Mangubat and they had four children, Jorge, Luisa, Elena, and Prescila. He was born in Borbon, Cebu on October 15, 1892. He was the son of Crispin Dosdos and Ana Mondigo. Dosdos was admitted to the Bar on September 26, 1921.