Pagadian City – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Region 9 formally concludes the month long proactive campaign activities against destructive fires, as the BFP R9 Regional Director, together with the Provincial/City/Municipal Fire Marshals and personnel from Regional Office 9, as well as invited guests from different agencies, jointly celebrates the 2022 Fire Prevention Month Culmination Program held at Maguindao Hall, Provincial Government Complex, Dao, Pagadian City.
The event started with an invocation and Philippine National Anthem, followed by the welcome remarks of F/Senior Superintendent Roygbiv L Rugayan, Assistant Regional Director for Operations, BFP R9, acknowledging the guests from the Regional Office IX of Civil Service Commision (CSC) -Field Office, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Commission on Audit (COA), Deparent of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), as well as offices of the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Pagadian City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police Office (PPO) and some friends from the media.
A short Audio Visual Presentation was played highlighting the successful events of promoting fire safety and prevention involving the community, which were conducted to the different parts of the region spearheaded by the respective Fire Stations. Some of the activities were Berong’s Camp, Fire Square Road Show, Fire Station Open House, Fire Safety Lectures, Training Fire Volunteers, and many more.
As part of these activities, essay writing, poster making and drawing contests were also done in the provincial level, in which winners were recognized and awarded during this culmination program. In addition, the 1st BFP Community Relations (ComRes) Regionwide contests entitled Good Shot Photography and Videography Contests winners were also given their certificates and prizes.
The newly promoted Regional Director of BFP Region 9, F/Chief Superintendent Renato Badong Marcial, DSC, proudly introduced the guest of honor and speaker of the culmination program, who was no other than the Regional Director of the Office of the Civil Defense, Region 9, Director Ramon M Ochotorena.
In his message, Director Ochotorena gave emphasis on the theme of this year’s FPM, “Sa Pag-iwas sa Sunog, Hindi ka Nag-iisa.” Just like the community, the BFP is also not alone in combating destructive fires and in giving aide during calamities. The BFP will always be supported by the government agencies and private individuals for its goal to have a fire safe nation.
As compared to March 2021, the number of fire incidents in March 2022 in Zamboanga Peninsula has dropped to _% proving that fire prevention campaigns and efforts of the BFP to involve the communities are getting successful and thus F/Chief Superintendent Marcial said, “The observance of fire prevention does not end within this month of March, but it shall be a lifetime practice of everyone for us to be safe from fire.” (Maysy Cataquiz, PIO, BFP9, photo courtesy of BFP region 9)