Fire volunteers in Valenzuela participate in a fire safety training organized by the local government. (Photo Courtesy: Valenzuela Public Information Office)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Some 230 fire volunteers of the Disiplina Village (DV) Lingunan received fire safety training and seminar in Valenzuela City on Monday, March 4.
The training and seminar aims to provide basic knowledge on fire incident response and reinforce the value of volunteerism.
The “Bantay Sunog” volunteers were also given additional 150 fire extinguishers to supplement their essential fire-fighting equipment.
City Mayor Wes Gatchalian meanwhile recognized the seven (7) Bantay Sunog volunteers who helped contain the fire in one of the housing units in DV Lingunan before it affected other residential dwellings.
Mayor Wes Gatchalian (4R) awards certificates to exemplary fire volunteers who helped battle the fire that broke out in Disiplina Village Lingunan. (Photo Courtesy: Valenzuela PIO)
“Alam niyo po, sa mga punto po ng mga ganitong insidente, tayo-tayo rin po ang magtutulungan, wala nang iba. Kaya po natutuwa po ako sa ating pong 7 na volunteers na ibinuwis ang kanilang buhay, ibinigay po ang kanilang makakaya. Hindi na po nag-complain, hindi na po nagsalita, at agad-agad pong kumilos para po tulungan po ang isang kapitbahay natin dito sa Disiplina Village Lingunan,” said Gatchalian.
(You know, in terms of these incidents, we are the only ones who can help each other. This is why I’m grateful to our 7 volunteers who risked their lives and gave their best. They did not complain nor reacted with words, and rather immediately took action to help one of our neighbors here in Disiplina Village Lingunan.)
Apart from receiving recognition, the exemplary fire volunteers were also promoted as the team leaders of the Bantay Sunog volunteers in DV Lingunan.
It can be recalled that the Bantay Sunog volunteers were formed in 2009. To date, about 10,000 Bantay Sunog volunteers have already been produced and capacitated by the city government.
The provision of the essential training program for fire volunteers is anchored on the observance of ‘Fire Prevention Month’ this March 2024 that coincides with the theme “Sa Pag-iwas sa Sunog, Hindi ka Nag-iisa.”
In a further bid to improve the fire protection system in the city, the local government partnered with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Valenzuela to provide refresher training among the fire volunteers in all thirty-three (33) barangays. (Valenzuela PIO/PIA-NCR)
