Unity walk kicks off fire prevention month 2018 in Mabuhay town

By Jong Cadion

Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay Province (March 1) -  Nearly three hundred individuals coming from the Local Government Unit  of Mabuhay, academe, non-government organizations (NGOs) and members of APO (Alpha Phi Omega) joined the unity walk spearheaded by the Bureau of Fire Protection in Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay on the dawn of Thursday, March 1, 2018.

Fire Officer Jimmy Potayre said that the activity aims to raise awareness in the community and recognizes the role of every individual in achieving fire safety, not only during the month of March but also during all throughout the year.

He explains that this year's theme "Ligtas na Pilipinas ang ating hangad, pag-iingat sa sunog ay sa sarili ipatupad" is an encouragement that every Filipino must be responsible in keeping a fire-safe environment where everyone should take proactive measures.

"Fire safety begins in ourselves. Di bale ng manakawan, wag lang masunugan ( It’s better to have our house robbed than burned to the ground).” He said.

Moreover, DILG Officer Lemuel C. Mejares emphasized that it is better safe than sorry. The fire that hit one of the offices in Mabuhay on 2017 would serve as a reminder to be more careful, to be proactive rather than retroactive.

“As a part of our national development, there is an impelling and constant need for propagating safety consciousness among our people every day of the year as a positive preventive approach to a problem that can be solved by more caution, vigilance, sobriety, exercise of common sense. There would be no need for the firemen if all of us would take precautionary measures”, he lightheartedly said.

He also shared some practical tips in keeping the entire family safe from the damages of fire, emphasizing some situations inside the kitchen, in the bedroom and in respective offices.

Meanwhile, LDRRMO Ronald B. Zarate underscored that the activity shall be intensified with preparedness on earthquake drills and simulation to be conducted in every schools as part of the month-long observance.

Among the activities lined up this month are "Berong Bombero sa Paaralan", a muncipalwide education campaign in all elementary schools in Mabuhay advocating for fire safety awareness among the youth; One Team: One Color, series of forum and drills, among others.

The Bureau of Fire Protection is set to conduct culmination activity, honoring the best performing schools in terms of fire preparedness mechanism on March 28,2018.(PR-DILG Mabuhay)