BONTOC, Mountain Province – Bontoc is a grateful recipient of a brand-new 1,000 Gallon Isuzu Fire Truck from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey along with FO1 Ruben Bay-os and FO1 Donald Pachao III of the Bontoc Municipal Fire Station (MFS) received the fire truck at the BFP Headquarters on March 1, 2022, in Quezon City, Metro Manila.
According to FO2 Melodave Claire Khayad from the Bontoc MFS, the fire truck was personally requested by Mayor Odsey from BFP Chief Louie Puracan during the blessing of a fire truck on February 22, 2022, in Besao, Mountain Province.
Khayad mentioned that the Bontoc MFS currently has two fire trucks. “With the Isuzu fire truck, we would be able to respond more efficiently in cases of fire since it is equipped with features that are effective in penetrating fire,” she added
The 1,000 Gallon Isuzu Fire Truck can spew out water as high up as 65 to 75 meters or around the height of a two-storey building.
Thus, coinciding with observance of Fire Prevention Month this March, a program and a blessing of the newly acquired fire truck was held on March 4, 2022, at the Bontoc MFS.
In his welcome message, SFO4 Bartolome Cacamo, Municipal Fire Marshal of Bontoc MFS, expressed his gratitude to their partner agencies for their continuous support in the implementation and attainment of the bureau’s programs and advocacies.
SR SUPT Leonida Gumanab-Rosales, DHRD (Director, Human Resource Development) – Bureau of Fire Protection National Headquarters extended the message of BFP Chief Puracan.
“My brothers and sisters in the service, I encourage you to be more visible in the communities, initiate programs and activities that would make the public feel safe and secure, interact with the communities, schools, children, civic leaders, and most importantly, train them to be prepared,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, Odsey expressed his utmost gratitude to the BFP for their positive response. He mentioned that the new fire truck brings good news to the Bontoc community.
“On behalf of the people and officialdom of Bontoc, we express our profound gratitude to the BFP for the provision of a fire truck as it would pave way for a more efficient response in times of disasters. We will make sure that this will be efficiently used to save lives and protect the properties of our people. Please extend our gratitude to Chief Puracan for the provision of a mother fire truck in our municipality. Fire is a man-made calamity such that it is manageable and controllable. Thus, if people follow standards and regulations, fire can be prevented” the mayor added.
Odsey also expressed his hopes for the provision of an emergency vehicle from the BFP.
Police Major Joshua Mateo, the Chief of Police of Bontoc Police Station extended his full support to the Bontoc MFS and remarked that the newly acquired fire truck would be of great help in responding to emergencies.
The blessing of the brand-new 1,000 Gallon Isuzu Fire Truck was officiated by Rev. Father Frederick Lid-ayan of Sta. Rita De Cascia Cathedral.
Also present during the ceremony are Sr. Supt. Floyd Toyokan, Municipal Health Officer Diga Kay Gomez, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Johanna Padaen, personnel from the Office of the Provincial Fire Marshal, Natonin MFS, Paracelis MFS, and Barangay Poblacion represented by Kagawad Alejandro Sarmiento, Jr.
Other recipients of the same model of fire truck in Mountain Province are the municipalities of Bauko, Sabangan, Sadanga.
By Christy Mae F. Che-es & Alpine Killa -Malwagay