A BUREAU of Fire Protection (BFP) 7 official requested the Cebu City Government for an allowance for their 100 personnel in the regional and provincial offices in Cebu.
Senior Supt. Samuel Tadeo, the new BFP 7 director, raised the matter to Mayor Tomas Osmeña during a courtesy call at City Hall yesterday noon. Cebu City Fire Marshal Rogelio Bongabong Jr. and other BFP personnel were also present.
“Personnel of the regional office and provincial office of BFP also respond to fire alarms in Cebu City. They participate in the information campaign and they also respond to calamities in the city. They are also based in Cebu City, so if the City Government could consider giving the allowance, if possible,” Tadeo told reporters yesterday.
Around 160 firefighters and BFP personnel assigned in the city are already receiving an allowance of P4,000 a month from City Hall.
Tadeo hopes the same amount can be given to the firemen from the region and the province.
He said his office already wrote the City about their request.
During the meeting, Osmeña told the BFP officials that he will consider the request only if the City has available funds.
The mayor, in a separate interview, said the additional allowance will not be given this time, but he may do so in the future.
“I am trying to save money. I am not trying to save more money,” he said.
Despite its limited funds, the City will support and give BFP some firefighting equipment.
Before the end of the month, the City will turn over to the Cebu City Fire Station an aerial ladder that is capable of reaching the 16th floor of a high-rise building.
Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Chief Nagiel Bañacia said the City bought the aerial ladder during the term of the previous administration.
Bañacia said the City will also give the fire station one ambulance so they can be part of the loop of ambulance service in the city.
There are 47 City-owned ambulances that were distributed to the different barangays and another 18 new ambulances that have not yet been assigned to a barangay.
Bañacia said the City will be the one to train the BFP personnel to become emergency medical technicians. The City will also provide the supplies for their ambulance.
“By that scheme, the City will be able to save money in terms of personnel services, for the salary of the staff of the ambulance service,” he said.
The ambulance, which will be stationed in Barangay Parian, will be given to the fire department as soon as the City upgrades it to meet the standards of the Department of Health.