Reg’l, provincial fire stations ask allowances

FIREFIGHTERS of Cebu province and Central Visayas are asking for a monthly allowance from the Cebu City government like their counterparts in the city.

Senior Supt. Samuel Tadep, newly appointed Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP-7) chief, brought this concern to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña in a courtesy call yesterday morning.

“There are also other firefighters from the regional and provincial office. They are also based here in Cebu City so they also respond if there are fire and other calamities. We were thinking if they can also be considered for the allowance,” Tadeo told reporters.

There are 84 BFP personnel in the regional office and 15 in the provincial office.

The city government provides a monthly allowance of P4,000 to each of the 160 BFP personnel in the Cebu City office. Tadeo said they were told by Osmeña that he will look into it.

Tadeo said they are also asking for additional equipment and materials from the city government including fire trucks and fire hoses.

But, in a separate interview, Osmeña said he’s not thinking about giving them the allowance anytime soon.

“I said not this time, maybe later on. I’m trying to save money, I’m not trying to spend more money,” the mayor said.

Tadeo said they are expecting an aerial ladder from the city government within this month. He said the equipment can help firefighters reach up to 16 storeys high.

The city will also be providing an ambulance to the BFP said Nagiel Bañacia, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) chief.

Bañacia said their office is willing to train BFP personnel to also respond to medical emergencies using the ambulance to be provided by City Hall.

He said this will save the city government some money since they won’t have to hire additional personnel.