Ermita youths train to help fight fires, conduct rescue operations

FIRE DRILL. Ermita youths show off their newly acquired firefighting skills during a drill in Sitio Bato at the culmination of a firefighting training organized by Cebu Private Power Corp. (CONTRIBUTED)

ELEVEN youths in Barangay Ermita have acquired skills to fight fires and conduct rescue operations in this densely populated area of Cebu City.

The youths volunteered to undergo basic firefighting and first aid and rescue operations training organized by the Cebu Private Power Corp. (CPPC) last May 30 to June 1.

On the last day of the training, the trainees participated in the fire-fighting and rescue drill.

CPPC, a joint venture of Aboitiz Power Corporation and Vivant Corporation, organized the training upon the request of Ermita barangay officials.

“Nangita mig proyekto nga maka-awhag sa mga kabatan-onan nga magpakabana ug motabang, labi na sa panahon sa sunog (We looked for a project that would encourage the youth to help, especially in the event of fire),” said Ermita Barangay Councilor Domingo Ando Jr.

Ando said the trainees, who represented the five different sitios in Ermita, will become the first responders should a fire break out in their area.

“We cannot expect them (trainees) to respond to every emergency because they have no honoraria and they also have to attend school. The trainees will only complement the Ermita Quick Emergency Response Team,” he said in Cebuano.

Kimbert Kangkee, 27, a buko (young coconut) vendor, said that he joined the training so he would know how to help during fires.

Ando said they are planning to hold the fire-fighting training with CPPC every year so that more residents in the barangay would be better equipped to respond to fires in the area.

SFO4 Jimmy Layao, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) San Nicolas Sub-station fire marshal, said that the BFP was thankful for companies like CPPC which help fulfill the government agency’s mandate to educate and equip communities to be able to respond to fires.

CPPC, which operates a 70-MW (megawatt) bunker-fired power plant in Ermita, also donated a fire hose and nozzle, as well as a fire hydrant to the barangay. Water supply to the fire hydrant will be provided by CPPC.