BFP on alert for Tacloban New Year revelries

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 29 (PNA) -– The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) office here will set its code red alert status from Dec. 30, 2016 to Jan 1, 2017, as part of the fire safety measure for the New Year revelries.

The BFP’s code red status entails heightened fire alertness wherein all of their personnel are on-call during these days.

“Because of last year’s fire incidences here in Tacloban, we intensified our fire safety movements for this coming New Year to prevent possible blaze,” said fire officer Jeremie R. Villarin, chief of the BFP Tacloban public information services.

The local BFP office launched the “Oplan Iwas Paputok.” It is a campaign against use of firecrackers through information dissemination, distribution of fire safety materials like flyers, leaflets and posters to different villages in the city.

Priorities are communities with large population living in makeshift houses.

This campaign also includes fire truck visibility and public address about safety tips and measures regarding the use of fire crackers.

“We are really advocating to the public about the use of authorized firecracker products only. Of course, it would be so much better if we will not use firecrackers at all. We can have other safer means of celebrating New Year,”Villarin added.

BFP has been conducting fire safety inspections of fireworks manufacturing plants, display centers, identified high-risk buildings, and transportation facilities like airports and bus terminals. LAP/SQM/Maria Eden Mae T. Terceño (OJT)