First Quarter 2014

BFP-SAN JUAN’S SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY FIRE SAFETY CAMPAIGN PAVES WAY TO ZERO-FIRE INCIDENT

By: Winston J. Navarez

INTENSIVE and effective community fire safety and prevention campaign of the Bureau of Fire Protection San Juan City Fire Station led by city fire marshal F/Chief Inspector Gilbert Dolot resulted to a zero fire incident during months of March and April this year, ironically, where temperatures are relatively high due to the summer season.

BFP-San Juan is the only city fire station in the National Capital Region (NCR) who achieved such outstanding feat keeping their city safe from any occurrence of fire especially during the month of March, the observance of Fire Prevention Month and the succeeding month of April.

Dolot said that this accomplishment can be directly attributed to the impact of their Road Run program wherein fire officials and personnel of BFP San Juan roam around the city minus any fire truck or vehicles just bear foot to visit houses upon houses in each every barangay.

“We have seen and experienced tremendous effectiveness of this program compared to the our traditional motorcade fire safety campaign. Because of this Road Run, we have a direct contact of each of every barangay officials and residents educating them of the importance of having a fire-safety conscious mind and reminding them to double their fire safety measures since we are experiencing the onslaught of the summer season where statistics show us that fire incidents are relatively high during this occasion,” Dolot said.

Dolot added that aside from directly answering to immediate concerns and queries of residents pertaining to fire safety matters, complaints and hazards BFP San Juan was able to save tremendously in terms of logistics especially in gas allocations and maintenance of fire trucks and vehicles since they visit the communities by foot.

“It makes us fit and healthy too, aside from imploring active community participation in preventing fire in the whole city of San Juan,” he added.

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Makati BFP Gets New Gears

Photo shows officers and fire personnel of Makati City Central Fire  Station headed by city fire marshal F/Supt. Ricardo Perdigon (2nd from left), assisted by F/Chief Insp. Jay Penas (left) and public information services chief F/Insp. Alma Cassandra Gardose (2nd from right) during the formal delivery and transparent viewing of various firefighting suit, gears and equimpments procured by the city government of Makati to enhance the capability of Makati fire bureau in responding to any fire incidents and other emergencies. 

Winston J. Navarez

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Rock N' Rolling Away The Menace of Fire

by: Winston Jay

Everybody loves music. Especially when we see and hear our favorite pop and all-time faves from yesteryear up to the current top hits played live on stage by firefighters of the Bureau of Fire Protection. The leader of the band - BFP-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional director FSSupt Warlito P. Daus and all the members of the band he created, "The General Alarm Band" has once again started to swarm key towns and cities region-wide to perform their live concert safety and fire prevention campaign dubbed as "Musika Laban sa Sunog", one of their programs anchored in the observance the Fire Prevention Month. Daus has proven the weight and effectiveness of using the power of music to draw crowd attention at the same time educating the public and create awareness of the importance of having a fire-safety conscious society.

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Imus BFP to Provide Better Services & Fire Emergency Response Through Strategic Clusterized Inspection Assignments

by: Winston Jay

Imus city journeys to an even safer place against the dangers of fire through a new scheme implemented recently by Imus City Fire Station which aims to boost not just fire safety and prevention but likewise, accountability among its fire safety inspectors.

City Fire Marshal F/Sr. Insp. Aymar Baybay, in an exclusive interview conducted by this reporter, said that the new clusterized fire safety inspection assignments of the city fire departments' safety inspectors will definitely enhance the quality of fire safety and prevention activities city-wide.

By virtue of Office Order 20140004 signed by Baybay and noted by Cavite Provincial Fire Director, F/Sr. Supt. Armando Custodio dated January 7, 2014, nine (9) fire personnel of the city fire station were designated as fire prevention officer/fire safety inspectors.

Baybay explained that with this new approach, designated fire safety inspectors are strategically assigned in all 9 clusters comprising different barangays of Imus City.

Imus firefighters led by CFM FSInsp. Aymar Baybay (2nd from left)

during their recent courtesy call to Imus City Mayor Immanuel Maliksi

(3rd from left, in fitness attire).

"In implementing this program, our safety inspectors will have greater familiarization of his/her assigned area of jurisdiction. He/she is expected to identify suitable mechanisms to ensure that all establishments in his/her assigned cluster will be inspected and abiding the rules and regulations stipulated in the fire code of the Philippines," Baybay said.

The city fire marshal added that he also reminded all of the assigned fire safety inspectors to build harmonious relationship with respective public officials in their designated clusters, particularly barangay leaders as well as village or subdivision adminstrators and homeowners association officials. Tapping the help and cooperation of these leaders, Baybay added that various fire safety programs and campaigns which perfectly fits the community are expected to be crafted and implemented soon.

Another significance aimed by the clusterized assignment scheme is developing greater accountability of all designated cluster fire safety inspectors. "Since they are assigned as "resident" safety officers/inspectors in their assigned cluster areas, our inspectors will most likely avoid engagements in unprofessional and corrupt activities since they will be easily identified,” Baybay explained.

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13 IS THE LUCKIEST NUMBER FOR BFP’S BEST CITY FIRE STATION

by: Winston Jay

Far beyond the Chinese superstition branding Number 13 as bad luck and the Year 2013 as year of slim chances and narrow opportunies, the Bacoor City Fire Station amazingly discovered loads of triumphs behind this famous negative numerical premonition... moreover, 2013 brought in loads of tremendous unforgettable public service success and fortune to the entire city fire station.

You may find it hard to believe but yes its true, consisting of only 13... yes, you read it right... 13 again... 13 dedicated firefighters armed with just nominal firefighting equipments combined with selfless dedication and commitment, the city fire bureau never failed to strictly and unbiasedly implement the country's fire code thus, creating an even more fire free environment to more than 600,000 people of Bacoor City. Imagine the ratio? That's 1 firefighter securing lives and properties of approximately 46,154 individuals!

Through effective, effecient, professional, courteous, excellent, and transparent fire safety services and programs the city fire station earned the trust and confidence of the city public officials as well as the whole community resulting to a collective and unified effort to combat the menace of fire year after year.

CFM FSInsp Aldwin Salazar (2nd from right)  accepting the Gold Kaban
Award - 2012, municipal category presented by BFP Region 4A led by
regional director FCSupt Nimfa D. Cuartel (right), asst. regional directors
FSSupt Armando Custodio and FSupt. Reynaldo Lorenzo.

Bacoor City Fire Station’s Year 2013 accomplisments narrates the different feats, awards and recognition the city fire department has brought in to the BFP’s coffer giving a new positive image to the entire firefighters nationwide - the unsung heroes of our country.

Ranking their topmost achievement is acquiring the first ever 2013 “BEST BFP CITY FIRE STATION”  in line with the performance-based incentive program initiated last year by President Noynoy Aquino for all public offices and services nationwide. Sealing his salutation and thumbs-up to Bacoor City Fire Station men and women for their jobs-well-done, President Aquino also sent his personal letter to congratulate them last November.

To be adjudged as the best among all fire stations in the land truly distinguishes the marksmanship of each and every Bacoor City firefighters - led by city fire marshal Fire Senior Inspector Aldwin Salazar – who are all committed to their sworn duty to provide the highest level of public service in the matters of fire prevention and safety.

The city fire bureau is continuously conducting Fire Safety Awareness Campaign being the primary concern and advocacy of BFP to prevent occurrences of fire. Some of the noteworthy programs along this line were the launching of Junior Fire Marshal Program, Drawing/Poster Making contest and Fun Run dubbed as “Walk for a Fire Free Community”.

Likewise, through intensified enforcement of the fire code fees collection, the fire department collected a total amount of P6,907,907,90 last year. In 2012, the office was also a recepient of Gold Kaban Award given by BFP Region 4-A for posting highest fire code fees collection in the Municipal level comprising the Southern Tagalog region. Bacoor was still a municipality during that year.

Also in 2013, structural fire in Bacoor City significantly dropped by 29.6% compared to 2012 with also embraced a 30.7 decreased in fire estimated cost of damaged.

Bacoor City FS also received great awards last year some of which are the following: Best City Fire Marshal of the Year (regional level), Best City Fire Station (provincial level), Public Service Excellence Awards,  and more.