BFP-7 needs more fire tracks, fire fighting equipment
By: Hazel F. Gloria
Cebu City, March 22 (PIA)— Officials from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Central Visayas said they don’t have problems with water resource during its operations but what they need are more fire tracks and fire fighting equipment to support the community in times of fire incidents.
BFP-7 chief, regional operations division Supt. Felipe Canillas requests the local government units to have mini-fire tracks stationed in their barangays to be able to respond initially during fires in their areas.
During the AGIO-7 forum today, BFP officials said Cebu has 10 serviceable fire tracks donated from the National Government and 5 locally owned fire tracks from the various organizations and barangays.
Cebu City deputy for operations Supt. Virginia Toledo explained that the ratio for one fire track is 1:2000 persons but as of this time, the ratio is 1:7000 persons.
Canillas said they also need more volunteers to assist them during fire incidents. They continue to conduct fire and earthquake drills for volunteers from schools, barangays and private sectors as first line of responders in cases of fires.
In Cebu City meanwhile, there are 21 barangay volunteers brigades and six private sectors’ volunteers teams that assist the BFP in times of fire calamities.
As of March 2011, fire incidents in Cebu City reduced to 50% compared to last year with 8 fire incidents while in Talisay City already had 5 incidents since January to March 2011.
BFP-7 deputy regional director for operations Supt Esmael Codilla encourages the government and private sectors to often conduct fire drills in their respective buildings as part of their fire safety measures.
BFP firefighters have always emphasized that fire prevention and safety measures should be seriously observed to avoid the loss of lives and properties, he concluded.(PIA-7/HFG)
Cebu calls for rehabilitation of the Buhisan watershed
as it joins the PHL in celebrating World Water Day
Cebu City (22 March) - As Cebu joins the country in celebrating World Water Day today, the need to rehabilitate the 100-year old groundwater surface source of Cebu City is given emphasis to maximize its potential of providing water supply to Metro Cebu’s burgeoning population.
The 27-meter high Buhisan Watershed Dam that was built in January 3, 1911 turned 100 years old this year as the need to rehabilitate the reservoir is given emphasis during the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project Donors’ Recognition and Forum this morning at the watershed site.
Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) General Manager Engr. Armando Paredes bared the Buhisan reservoir has been providing water for the Cebuanos for 10 decades now.
“Sustaining the Buhisan reservoir is essential for Cebu’s growing population as the dam is tapped by the MCWD to supply water to residents and establishments of Metro Cebu,” Paredes said.
Paredes said public-private partnership (PPP) is vital in ensuring the rehabilitation, preservation and conservation of the 630 hectare-watershed area.
Donor-partners of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) that supported the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project were given recognition in today’s activity.
In the last three years since the project was launched, the PBSP has collectively pooled P5.6M from its donor-partners to fund several projects within the watershed site that witnessed the inauguration of four projects. These are the1st bay Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve Nature Center, Two-Pond Storm Water Catchment System, Central Nursery of Indigenous Tree Seedlingsand the Butterfly Sanctuary
The PBSP has worked closely with the MCWD and the Cebu City Government in the development of Metro Cebu in several areas including the environment.
Jose Antonio Aboitiz, PBSP Visayas Executive Committee Chairman said the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project is “one of the environmental-related response of the Cebu Business Community” to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of which the Philippines is one of the 189 member-signatories.
Aboitiz said since the this year is declared as the ‘International Year of the Forest’ the time is indeed ripe to strengthen forest management conservation within the watershed area.
“The Buhisan Watershed is an actual and symbolic role of Metro Cebu as the volume of water it supplies benefits about 2,500 households within Metro Cebu areas,” Aboitiz revealed.
But Aboitiz however, said the reservoir’s potential water supply capacity has not been maximized and that in order to capitalize its full potential, rehabilitation is a must so it could be brought back to its original condition 100 years ago. (PIA-Cebu/Fayette C. Riñen)