Tension erupted as personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 7 inspected the second floor of the BFP building, which is being used as the temporary Cebu City Medical Center.
Cebu City Administrator Lucelle Mercado rushed to the area to face BFP 7 director Erlinda Tobias. Mercado was with lawyers Rey Chris Panugaling, CCMC director for administration; Collin Rosell, head of the Division for the Welfare of Urban Poor; and Mary Rose Salvatierra of the City Legal Office.
Mercado and the BFP officials were supposed to meet on June 30 to discuss BFP’s request to use the second floor of their building for their job order employees. It is now being used as the hospital’s stockroom.
The meeting was postponed because Mercado had other commitments while Tobias was scheduled to fly to Manila after the supposed meeting.
“They inspected the area because they want to take over. They thought we are not giving attention to their request because the scheduled meeting did not push through,” Mercado said.
In a closed door meeting yesterday, the BFP agreed to give the city eight days to act on their request.
When sought for comment, Mayor Michael Rama said the BFP cannot demand the city to vacate the second floor.
He insisted that the BFP must look for another place for their regional office.