Saturday, October 11, 2008 Bureau launches fire safety education drive By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Cordillera, in coordination with all BFP units nationwide, launched its Operation Plan Fire Safety Education Drive or Oplan FSED in Baguio City on Friday.
Oplan FSED, according to BFP Regional Director Maria Sofia Mendoza, is a massive information and education campaign aimed at minimizing the occurrence of fire incidents, to generate awareness with the public so as to enhance community readiness during emergency situations, especially this coming Yuletide season, and also during un-predicted natural calamities considering the Cordillera's terrain and weather condition.
"As directed through a memorandum from the BFP chief, Director Enrique Linsangan, all units nationwide will intensify their information and education drive with emphasis given to densely-populated and identified fire-prone areas and vulnerable locations," she pointed out.
"This program also reinforces and encourages the participation of the public in checking and reporting any anomalous activities of fire safety inspectors, and these reports may be relayed through landline and cellular telephone hotlines or channeled through the BFP website using our 'E-mail Mo Si Chief' service," Mendoza said.
If any report needs to be relayed to the BFP regional office, they may be contacted through telephone numbers (074) 442-3006 or (074)443-8414, while if any report has to be sent to their national headquarters, it may be sent through telephone numbers (02)911-7085 or (0919)812-3009. Their website, on the other hand, may be accessed at www.bfpresponse.gov.ph.
"Fire safety inspection is one of the major pillars, which the BFP delves into aside from fire suppression, education and investigation. It is one of the areas usually vulnerable to corruption, as identified in our integrity development review," said Mendoza.
She added: "In our anti-corruption and integrity development program, the Oplan FSED was introduced as a measure to prevent or preempt the occurrence of any corruption on the part of our fire safety inspectors and to prevent fire safety compliance applicants from violating or continuously defying safety standards,"
The BFP official said that with Oplan FSED, they recognized the role of media in its implementation.
Violations of the Fire Code, which shows clear and present danger to the public, may be shown through tri-media as part of the BFP's vigilance to violations of fire safety standards, she said.
