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BY RESEL JOY TIANERO
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Tuesday, February 21, 2017
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ILOILO City – Fire razed six establishments in Barangay Poblacion South, Oton, Iloilo before dawn yesterday.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) estimated the damage to have reached P2 million.
The six establishments were totally gutted, according to Senior Fire Officer 4 Roberto Tamayo Jr., acting municipal fire marshal.
These were Jun Man Eatery, WPE Hardware, Dongskie Eatery, Chooks to Go, Glass and Aluminum Store, and Joy Joy Upholster.
According to Tamayo, the fire started at Jun Man Eatery and this was caused by an electrical short circuit.
“The fire spread fast. Jun Man Eatery was made of wood and bamboo and it had nipa thatches for its roof,” said Tamayo.
The fire marshal said a taxi driver informed them about the fire around 12:54 a.m.
Firefighters from Arevalo district in Iloilo City and the towns of San Miguel and Pavia helped Tamayo’s men put out the fire.
The “fire out” was called around 3:50 a.m.
BFP expressed hope to see all local government units (LGUs) in the province with a fire station each. Provincial Fire Marshal Superintendent Jose Filomeno Salolog said 15 towns have no fire stations.
Iloilo has 42 towns and one component city.
To address this, Salolog urged LGUs to donate lots so that BFP could request a budget from their central office for the construction of a building.
The BFP is spending about P4 million for the construction of one fire station.
But even if some LGUs are without a fire station, Salolog said all 42 towns and the component city of Passi were equipped with fire trucks. Two, however, were under repair.
If all towns will have their own fire truck, Salolog said, it will “give comfort to clients and BFP personnel” as they can extend “more efficient service to the public.”
On the other hand, BFP will be holding lectures and seminars this year to intensify its fire prevention campaign.
Salolog said that there is a need to strengthen this campaign in the province since they have noted a significant increase in the number of fire incidents last year, specifically grassfire due to the El Niño phenomenon. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
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