ITOGON, Benguet – The municipal government donated a 500-square meter lot in sitio Malasin, barangay Ucab to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for the construction of a structure for the Itogon Municipal fire Station to help in significantly improving timely response to fire incidents that will transpire in the surrounding communities.
Mayor Bernard S. Waclin stated that the donation was made during the incumbency of the late Mayor Victorio Palangdan but the proposed put up of a fire station in the area had not been provided with the necessary funding support to realize its purpose.
He claimed that the BFP committed to provide the funds for the construction of the proposed fire station in the area this year that is why the local government remains optimistic that the long overdue project will be realized to ensure the timely response of firefighters and volunteers during fire incidents and emergency situations that may transpire within the surrounding communities.
The proposed site of the new fire station will be within the vicinity of the Itogon dialysis center which is strategically within the surrounding communities for timely and efficient response to emergency situations in the said area.
The local chief executive pointed out that the local government already fulfil lined its commitment on the project and that it is the funds that is now being awaited for the realization of the said initiative that will contribute in significantly improving the firefighting response of the Itogon Municipal fire Station as it will have its satellite fire station in the said place.
Mayor Waclin stipulated that a boring test was also done in the donated property to ascertain its stability in preparation for the expected construction of the fire station and that the results of the said test were already provided to the concerned government agencies for their reference and guidance.
According to him, the timely response of firefighters during fire incidents will greatly help in saving life and limb from eventual loss and damages, thus, the wisdom of putting up another fire station in the said area through the support of the BFP.
For his part, Fire Superintendent Jessie Annasiw, BFP-CAR regional chief of staff, said that the pertinent documents of the project are already complete and had been forwarded to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the issuance of the requisite environmental compliance certificate (ECC) to pave the way for the realization of the project.
However, he disclosed that the bureau was informed that it will be the DENR Secretary who will sign the ECC, thus, they will have to await the action of the Secretary on the said matter.
Annasiw revealed that P10 million had been provided by the bureau for the construction of the new fire station of the municipality and the implementation of the project will immediately commence after the issuance of the required ECC for the said endeavor.
assured that the funds for the project had already been made available that is why Itogon municipal officials need not to worry about the delayed implementation of the project as it will be done once the required document shall have been released by the environment department. By Dexter A. See