Saturday, May 24, 2008 City Council mulls creation of safety booklet
THE City Council committee on peace and public safety mulls the creation of a standard instruction booklet on safety in times of disasters to be circulated in all institutions within Davao City.
"There is a need to strengthen our capacity to respond to disasters especially now that this is happening all around. This includes a massive awareness campaign so people will know exactly what to do. Until present, most are still confused on correct safety measures," Committee Chair Nilo Abellera, who assumed the post February, said Wednesday.
The instruction booklet, which will be compiled with the help of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), includes safety measures before and during the occurrence of disasters such as earthquakes, storms, floods, volcano eruption and blackouts.
Abellera also urges the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the City Engineer's Office (CEO) to be "vigilant" in the inspection of buildings and similar structures to ensure their compliance with fire prevention and safety measures.
The CEO is also requested to re-evaluate and update the documentation of all city structures, especially those deemed as fire hazards including the recommendations issued -- if these are to be demolished, closed or renovated.
The BFP is also asked to inspect the status of fire hydrants to allow the committee to create arrangement on providing rehabilitation and installation of new ones in strategic locations if necessary. (GLP)
