PHILIPPINE Navy (PN) firemen safely evacuated some 50 families as it responded to a fire incident in Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi, a top PN official announced on Sunday, September 2.

Rear Admiral Rene Medina, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) commander, said the fire broke out around 2:30 a.m., Sunday, along Kahapan Street at the port area of Bongao town.

Medina said that Commander Charles Merric Villanueva, skipper of BRP-Miguel Malvar (PS-19), immediately deployed two firefighting teams with pumps and fire hoses to extinguish the fire that raze several structures that included residential houses and commercial buildings.

He said the BRP-Miguel Malvar was moored at the port of Bongao at the time of the incident.

He said there was not reported casualties during the fire that was declared under control around 5:30 a.m., Sunday.

“The immediate and prompt action of the two firefighting teams of PS 19 prevented the spread of fire in the port area which could have razed nearby houses and establishments,” he said.

He said the prompt response of the BRP-Miguel Malvar crew shows the readiness of the sailors to provide services and assistance to the public in times of disaster. (SunStar Philippines)