New BFP7 chief to lobby for more fire trucks

CEBU, Philippines - The new acting director of the Bureau of Fire Protection-7 paid a courtesy call to Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale yesterday after she assumed office last March 6.

Supt. Erlinda Tobias said she wants to visit the field offices in Central Visayas to know the corners there first hand.

“Since kaka-assume lang, plano ko is pumunta sa mga fields para alamin ang mga problema nila. Then call conference with fire marshals to address the issues,” she said.

Tobias assumed as head BFP-7 after her predecessor, Maria Luisa Hadjula, retired from service. Tobias was head of BFP 4-A in Laguna before she was sent here.

She said she hopes for a smooth working relationship with the provincial government.

“I’m hoping na masuprutahan ko sila and vice versa,” she said.

Magpale also assured Tobias of the province’s support to her management at the BFP.

She said Tobias has also promised to help them in their medical-dental mission in far-flung areas.

 These activities, she said, would be an opportunity to educate the public on fire prevention through film showing or other ways of information dissemination.

The fire in Basak, Cebu City broke out during the courtesy call, just as Tobias told Magpale she will lobby for 60 additional fire trucks from the national government this year.

She said fire “happens anytime” and BFP-7 is “always ready to respond”. — (FREEMAN)