Cebu City firefighters get new tools

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday handed over firefighting, rescue and emergency equipment to the city’s fire station.

Newly-designated city fire marshall Vondrad Fernando Dobluis said the equipment would greatly enhance the capability of the local unit of the Bureau of Fire Protection which he said badly needs help in equipment acquisition.

“We only have few equipment in the station which we can use in our rescue operation,” he said.

Alvin Santillana, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CCDRRMC) operations head, said the equipment amounting to P839,658 were acquired from Weld Industrial Sales and D.L.A. Marine and Safety and Trading.

Rama said he particularly chose to hand over a chainsaw in yesterday’s turnover ceremony as the Cebu City Fire Station needs special equipment and tools to aid firefighters in carrying out its mission to save life and properties.

The mayor said he doesn’t want a repeat of what happened to the 2011 fire that gutted the Gaisano Capital South where firefighters had a tough time going inside the burning building because they were ill-equipped to accomplish the mission.

He called on the BFP personnel to take good care of the equipment the city has donated. /CORRESPONDENT CHRISTINE EMILY PANTALEON