Photo credit: Mrs. Joan Baclay
By Marico Betonio and Jessa Pacoma
Catbalogan City – As Samar State University (SSU) intensifies its thrust on resiliency, the university radio DYSY 102.9, through its head, head, Mrs. Joan J. Baclay, invited officers from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to talk on fire prevention on the program “Andam Ako. Ikaw, Andam Ka Ba?” (I am Ready. Are You?), March 22, 2018, at the university radio station.
As part of disaster risk reduction, DYSY raised questions on the common causes of fire in Catbalogan and preventive measures to FO1 Gerald Rebese, FO1 Ludwig Erick Zosa, FO3 Antoniette D Froilan, and FO3 Rachel T Gabuay.
According to the officers, the common cause of fire in Catbalogan, even nationally, is related to electricity. This is due to substandard wiring/connections and lack of maintenance and monitoring.
They advised to turn off the main switch in houses if there is no one, and to avoid overnight charging of gadgets as preventive measures.
BFP also asked for the drivers to cooperate by giving way to them during fire response to prevent delays.
When at a fire, people should drop on the floor to prevent suffocation.
BFP also conducts first aid trainings in barangays, one of the year-round activities.
Infomercials related to disaster risk reduction, produced by BSEd (Bachelor of Secondary Education) English students, were aired during the program.
Mrs. Baclay stated that the infomercials are also ways of SSU to remind the citizens their responsibilities in the society and to effectively convey message necessary to equip the community on resiliency.
After the program, the station received a text message from Jane, a listener in Zumarraga.
Thanking DYSY, she stated further, “Dako po ine na bulig labi na gud na waray kami didi fire station. (This is a big help to us especially that we do not have a fire station here.)”
