Go lauds BFP for fire prevention initiatives

Following the observance of the Fire Prevention Month this March, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has urged authorities to strengthen their information campaigns on fire prevention throughout the country to avoid loss of lives and properties due to fire incidents.

Sharing his experience from his travels around the country to aid victims of fire incidents, Go explained that fire emanates from small, crowded communities in several occasions, giving rise to the need to educate residents in these mostly impoverished communities on how to avoid fires.

With the start of the dry season, the Senator said that fire hazards are among the risks that threaten the safety of Filipinos as these unwanted incidents become more frequent during this time of the year due to the high temperature and humidity.

He also noted that many houses in impoverished communities are made of light materials which are prone to catch fire.

Meanwhile, the Senator also commended the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for its “Oplan Ligtas Pamayanan” or OLP which responds to the growing demand for a “more adoptive, comprehensive, and immersive fire protection program for the communities, rural and urban villages and barangays.”

Fire emanates from small, crowded communities in several occasions, giving rise to the need to educate residents in these mostly impoverished communities on how to avoid fires.

OLP, which is a nationwide fire prevention campaign, aims to capacitate volunteer firefighters who will serve as force multipliers in fire protection-related activities in their own communities.

The program conducts a series of fire safety trainings in the different barangays in the country.

The program is composed of four stages: Handang Pamayanan (ready community), Bayanihan Program (cooperative undertaking), Kaagapay Program (companion) and the Lingap Program (protective care).

In an effort to further improve the government’s fire safety and protection measures, Go filed Senate Bill (SB) 204 or the “Act Strengthening and Modernizing the Bureau of Fire Protection” in July 2019.

Once passed into law, SB 204 will provide for the modernization of the BFP by giving them better equipment and resources to train its personnel.

He explained that under the measure, the bureau will also be mandated to conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in all local government units (LGU), particularly in informal settlements and economically depressed areas.

Go said that SB 204 will also establish Fire Protection Services and rescue hotlines in all LGU to help the local governments respond immediately to accidents, disasters and calamities.