Thursday, August 28, 2008 Cordillera fire bureau has woman as new chief By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
A FEMALE licensed civil engineer has recently taken her position as regional director of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the Cordillera.
Replacing Senior Superintendent Manuel Baduria Sr., who was reassigned as regional director of the BFP in Region 7 and is based in Cebu, is Senior Superintendent Ma. Sofia Mendoza, the first lady director of the BFP-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Prior to her designation as BFP-CAR director, Mendoza was the district fire marshal of Fire District (FD) 3 based in Makati City, which has territorial jurisdiction over the cities of Makati, Paranaque, Pasay, Muntinlupa, and Las Piñas.
Her assignment here was pursuant to Department Order 2008-753 issued by Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Bureau Order REA-2008-193 issued by Director Enrique Linsangan, BFP chief.
Mendoza is a be-medalled firefighter and one of the very few female senior fire officers of the BFP who is directly involved in its operations. She performs fire suppression activities when fire incidents occur.
A seasoned fire officer who personally directs firefighting activities as a former district fire marshal of FD-3 in the National Capital Region (NCR), notwithstanding being a female firefighter, she reportedly even surpasses the expertise and capability of her male counterparts in the process.
Experienced in fire suppression and rescue operations, Mendoza showed her critics why she's best fitted for the position, having a wide scope of knowledge and know-how in the field of fire fighting.
This assertive public servant knows how to plan and implement things for the best of the organization. Always ready to don on her firefighting gear, she goes on call wherever fire breaks out.
Mendoza is a licensed civil engineer and holds a Master's in Public Administration at the Central Colleges of the Philippines. She further honed her skill by taking up Fire Safety Engineering in Far Eastern Air Transport Incorporated (Feati) University.
Her recent mandatory training was in 2005 where she finished her Public Safety Officer's Supervisory Executive Course (Psosec) at the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC).
Being a firefighter for 20 years now, Sophie or Panther 6 (her call sign as district fire marshal of FD-3 in NCR) is well-known when it comes to the point of saying gender is not a measure to undertake any risky job. What are important, according to her, are dedication, courage, know-how, and perseverance.
As a manifestation of the significant role and heroism played by women in the government service, Mendoza proved further that women can take the lead in improving the delivery of public service to the people, particularly in the field of fire protection and suppression services.
Upon her assumption into office as regional director of the BFP-CAR, she promised to make it an agency more responsive to the protection of lives and properties in the Cordilleras.
