The fire that occurred in Numancia last night is of no shocking event. It just signifies that our people are not observing some mitigating measures to ensure their safety at any time of their daily living; not just relying upon those who are in charge of the government. The question is who is responsible?
One of the Numanciahanons commented on Facebook that the firemen of Numancia, so though with Kalibo and other fire stations are "owa it pueos" (no use). This is quite unfair to the men in uniform. I want to share with you some experience, some historic fire occurrences in the Province of Aklan for us to ponder and to know the factual life of being a fireman. I am neither bias nor fanatic of idiotic acts of government people. This is just to give some sort of knowledge to those uninformed persons out there.
As far as I can recall, way back in 1995 as the people of Aklan celebrated the feast of the Sto. Niño and the merry-makings were in the midst of the festivities, the Aklanons and guests horribly witnessed the fire that almost crushed and totally devastated C. Laserna community. I even lost my books which I left in my boarding house after I went home that same day before the calamity. Later on, I learned that a girl who was one of the majorettes of the parade was rushed (airlifted) to Manila. She was in a state of shock. Who is responsible my dear friend?
A fire also happened in Ibajay that destroyed the market and goods for sale valued at several millions of pesos. Again, the first fire station alerted was the Numancia Fire Station as it is nearer to Ibajay. But sadly, its fire truck stuck up in Campo Verde. The brakes broke up. The rest is "his-story" that merited public criticism for its failure to respond immediately. Again, who is responsible? The machine or the public officials concerned?
Sometime in March or April, I heard over the radio that people of Tangalan were pressing charges of negligence of duty to the firemen of Ibajay for not responding to the forest fire during the celebration of Fire Prevention Month. A landowner commented over the radio: "Una eon sanda, owa eagi pagsakaan ro andang fire truck, kasaka ngani pirme rang auto!" (They are there, they did not immediately ascend their fire truck, even my car can ascend.) Whew! That was amazing! But does his automobile carry big volume of water compared to the fire truck? I guess, he is conscious that to go to war, the soldiers must be well equipped.
Upon arrival in the fire scene, the protocol to follow is to look for the main source of fire and where to blow. What if there are bombs and explosives in the place? Then attack to control the fire.
Again, that same area in Tangalan was ravaged by another fire. The Kalibo Fire Station helped stop the fire. Again, the Kalibo and Ibajay firemen were lambasted on air. But the firemen were recognized and thanked for the good job well done. How cynical people was when one of the men nearly stumbled to death when the fire truck could not bear the load to come up and down of that slope. People just stood by and looked. Why not help push the fire truck so it can run?
Notice how the bureaucracy works. The municipal treasurer is responsible for the collection of Fire Code Fee. He remits the amount to the DILG national office. The DILG releases the budget to the regional office, to the province, and finally to the municipal fire station. But sad to say, almost all fire stations around the country is using second-hand fire trucks basically designed as a water supply delivery truck. What a shame!
My dear friends, have you ever tried to help firemen suppress a fire? Maybe you can fetch pails of water.
We are at large. The world is about to fall. Why wait for the sun to set in its place before you make your move? Now is the time to change and bestow your kindness to our Mother Earth and to your neighbors too. What you got is the result of your own doings. Stop corruption, save lives, learn to appreciate the warmth and kindness of our mother nature and be counted!
The rest will be his-story…/MP
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