Press Release
January 16, 2008

IN THE WAKE OF FIRES AND FOUL-UPS:
Villar pushes for strengthened fire crisis management

The series of fire incidents lately should raise the alarm for concerned agencies to intensify efforts at competently managing such emergency situations, said Senate President Manny Villar.

"These are very tense situations which must be responded to by our fire fighters, police and rescue teams, and local government units (LGUs) with dispatch and coordination emanating from their solid preparation," emphasized Villar, Nacionalista Party president.

About 300 families were rendered homeless after a fire gutted 100 houses in Makati City Friday (Jan. 10) morning. The fire snarled traffic along southbound EDSA as firefighters and affected families spilled over the major thoroughfare.

"The Department of Interior and Local Government (to which fire-related implementing agencies are attached) should take the lead in coming up with the necessary guidelines through an administrative order to improve the performance of our fire-fighting agencies," said Villar.

Villar also recalled that on Jan. 3, at least P91-million worth of property was destroyed after a 10-hour fire struck a mall beside the Light Rail Transit in Baclaran, Pasay City. Some 50 fire trucks from different parts of Metro Manila, including those from fire-volunteer groups, and Philippine Air Force helicopters assisted in dousing the fire. Most of the firefighters had no gas masks, and ran out of water.

"The fury of fire displays no mercy when it strikes," reminded Villar, "It spares nothing and leaves its victims utterly destitute." Thus, the Senate President said the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine National Police and LGUs must unify their efforts towards satisfactorily managing such crisis incidents.

We cannot allow the continued finger pointing and blame pinning among our agencies which do not alleviate at all the sufferings and losses of fire victims, said Villar, who filed a number of bills seeking to improve the management of emergency situations like fire.

The Senate President authored Senate Bill 244 seeking to prescribe the use of police, fire, or rescue or disaster lines and providing penalties for violations.

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