Standoff over use of building space hits Cebu City

Bureau of Fire Protection regional Director Ma. Luisa Hadjula (left) had a heated arguiment with Raquel Arce (in black cap) head of Cebu City demolition team as she tries to hold the demolition team in confiscating the beds of the firemen that were installed inside the offices of Cebu City Medical Center in Pahina central fire Station. JUNJIE MENDOZA/CDN

CEBU CITY—There is a standoff between the Bureau of Fire Protection in Central Visayas (BFP-7) and the Cebu City government on Thursday afternoon over the use of a portion of the BFP building on Natalio Bacalso Avenue this city.

The situation stemmed from the refusal of Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama to allow the BFP personnel from occupying the second floor of the BFP building which used be occupied by the Cebu City Fire Department (CCFD).

The CCFD moved to the Pari-an fire substation after the Cebu City Medical Center transferred its operation to the BFP Building when the CCMC building was declared unfit for occupancy following the damage it sustained during the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit the province on Oct. 15.

On Thursday afternoon, BFP Central Visayas director Ma. Luisa Hadjula ordered her personnel to put up temporary quarters and a command center on the second floor in preparation for Oplan Yolanda, the BFP’s quick response to emergencies during the onslaught of the supertyphoon.

While the second floor was already occupied by CCMC personnel, Hadjula insisted that the rooms be shared with the BFP.

The BFP used as a command center the room that had been occupied as CCMC administration office. Another room, which was tapped as central supply and linen section, was used as BFP’s Special Response Unit. A portion of the medical records room was used as BFP female quarters while the office of CCMC chief of hospital, Dr. Gloria Duterte, was used as male quarters.

But Mayor Rama did not want to share the rooms on the second floor with the BFP. Instead, he ordered the city demolition team to remove the beds and foams used by the BFP personnel.

Hadjula, however, resisted, saying the BFP needed these four offices which they could share with CCMC offices.

She said she felt bad because it appeared the BFP personnel were being thrown out from their own building.

To stop the demolition team from removing their belongings, a fire truck blocked the main entrance of BPF building while the BFP female personnel formed a human barricade.

The BFP personnel blocked the entry of demolition team. A commotion ensued as there were shoving and screaming.

The standoff triggered a bottleneck along the Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

One fire truck blocked the main entrance of BFP building while three city dump trucks parked near the sidewalk to load items seized from BFP.

BFP ambulance and two fire trucks from Naga City and CCFD parked next to the dump trucks. There were seven fire trucks parked across the street.