BONTOC, Mountain Province(PIA)--The Bureau of Fire Protection – Bontoc conducted a three-day Basic Life Support and Firefighting training to 30 participants to capacitate them to be part of the Community Fire Auxiliary Group(CFAG)  under the  “Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan”  program. 

Fire Officer I Miriam Karty , BFP-Bontoc Public Information Officer,  said the training  was on  capacitating barangay and  Sangguniang  Kabataan officials  of  barangays Alab Proper and Gonogon  on basic life support and  Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) management, among others.

 The first day was focused on basic life support where the participants learned about Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)   and Foreign Body Airway Obstruction   management and other first aid techniques.

For the second day, BFP-Bontoc headed by OIC Senior Fire Officer 4 Bartolome B. Cacamo, conducted basic firefighting which consisted of fire truck and LPG management and usage of fire extinguisher.

The third day was devoted to simulation activities where the participants   were able to practice what they learned in two days.

 Karty  said that based on  their data,  ALBAGO  which stands for barangays  Alab,Balili, and Gonogon, recorded  the highest number  of  vehicular accidents and  one of  target areas for  sub-station and CFAG.  

Members of the CFAG will act as the first responders to fire incidents in their respective areas until the BFP arrives.

Karty explained that CFAG forms part of the "Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan” which has four stages namely Handang Pamayanan (ready community), Bayanihan Program (cooperative undertaking), Kaagapay Program (companion), and Lingap Program (protective care).

Under the Handang Pamayanan, the barangay will create a community fire protection plan and establish a community hazard map to identify the hazard areas, and such plan will be laid out in case of fire incidents.

The Bayanihan Program focuses on neighborhood initiatives in creating fire plans and an expansion of abilities and skills will be taught to the volunteer fire brigade who will then be considered as members of CFAG.

 The Kaagapay Program, on the other hand, gives emphasis to the capacity building of firemen, wherein the BFP personnel will conduct barangay visits for basic fire safety awareness among the household members.

The Lingap Program recognizes villages that will conduct intensive house-to-house fire safety surveys in densely populated neighborhood and fire-prone areas. (JDP/VJLT-PIA CAR, Mt. Province)