MANILA -- Amid the several fire incidents in Quezon City, including a huge fire that affected 450 families in Barangay San Antonio, the Quezon City local government launched Tuesday the community-based fire awareness program that aims to educate residents on basic fire prevention measures.
Together with the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Red Cross, Bureau of Fire Protection, Meralco, and Quezon City Social Services Development Department, the city government will hold weekly seminars on fire awareness and electrical safety tips in various barangays.
During the launching, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed her frustration on the number of fire cases happening in Quezon City since January this year.
"Naisip nating isagawa ito dahil halos araw-araw simula Enero lagi tayong may sunog sa ating lungsod. Kakaiba ang dami ng sunog na nararanasan natin mula nang mga nagdaang buwan (We thought to conduct this because almost every day since January we always have fire incident in our city. The number of fires which we have been experiencing in the past months is different)," Belmonte said in an interview.
"Nagtataka ako bakit ganoon na sa isang maliit na pagkakamali tulad ng electrical connection, naiwang kalan, at kandila ang dami-dami nang naapektuhang buhay, damay-damay ang lahat. Nakakalungkot (I’m wondering why in such a small fault such as electrical connection, unattended gas stove and candle, the extent of damage is too much. It's just sad)," she said.
Belmonte stressed the importance of awareness on fire prevention measures, saying fire incidents could be avoided if the people know the danger of illegal electrical connections and the different fire hazards.
Meanwhile, Belmonte bared the internal administrative challenges of the city where the financial assistance for fire victims takes at least six months before it can be distributed.
"May nakarating sa akin na 16 na signatures daw ang kailangan bago makarating 'yung financial assistance sa mga nasunugan. Dapat alisin 'yung 15 doon nang sa gayon maibigay agad ang kailangang tulong (Information that reached me said 16 signatures are needed before the financial assistance reaches the fire victims. Those 15 signatures should be removed so that the needed assistance will be immediately given)," Belmonte said. (PNA)
