BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A substation of the Bureau of Fire and Protection in Brgy. 1 poblacion, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, is now operational.
This was after it was reactivated on September 16 by BFP regional and provincial officials led by Fire Chief Supt. Jerry Candido and San Carlos City officials led by Mayor Renato Gustilo.
Gustilo said that the old Barangay 1 Hall being used as the fire substation is equipped with an office, fire fighter’s quarters, kitchen and a fire truck, with seven firefighters assigned under the supervision of SFO2 Julius Jovia.
The BFP main fire station, which has three fire trucks and a water tanker provided by the city government, is presently located in Brgy. 6, San Carlos City.
Gustilo said the city government of San Carlos entered into a usufruct with BFP for the establishment of another fire station in Brgy. Rizal, which is in the poblacion center, to immediately address fire incidents.
If it pushes through, he said San Carlos City will have another fire station in the north and another in the south, aside from the poblacion center.
With the additional fire station, San Carlos City BFP chief, Chief Inspector Rufino Tañedo Jr. said they will be able to respond quickly to fire emergencies within the area and neighboring places, within a matter of minutes.
On the other hand, Gustilo attributed the realization of the facility to the strong support of the local government, as he assured of more improvements in the premises of the substation.
Vice Mayor Christopher Paul Carmona urged the BFP to train residents on basic firefighting, to boost their manpower during fire emergencies.
Candido, the BFP regional director for Western Visayas, commended the local government unit headed by Mayor Gustilo for its support to their agency, and for providing a comfortable facility for the firefighters.*
