BONTOC, Mountain Province – The firefighting capabilities of the Bontoc Municipal Fire Station (MFS) were given a boost as they receive a brand-new mini pumper truck from the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU).
The Bontoc LGU purchased and turned over one Mini Pumper Truck to the Bontoc Municipal Fire Station (MFS) on June 13, 2022, at the Municipal Capitol in support of the programs and mandates of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and to aid in the prevention, mitigation, and response to fire incidents and other emergencies.
For the said truck to be used, the blessing and thanksgiving ceremony was held on June 16, 2022, officiated by Rev. Lucrecia Turtem from the Cathedral of All Saints.
The P1, 795, 000.00 worth of mini pumper truck was sourced out from the 5% Calamity Fund of the Bontoc LGU. It is an Isuzu Elf NKS 4×4 Double Cab Fire Truck that has approximately 1,500 liters of water capacity and can navigate steep and narrow roads since the newly procured fire truck is smaller in size compared to the 1000-gallon fire truck delivered last March.
Officer-In-Charge SFO4 Bartolome Cacamo extended his utmost gratitude to the Bontoc LGU for the provision of a new fire truck which will help the firefighters to continually discharge their duties and responsibilities.
“I encourage everyone to help us, firefighters, to serve better by simply saving our hotline numbers and immediately contacting us in cases of fire and other untoward eventualities,” he added.
In his message, Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey remarked that the attainment of the vision or goal of any agency or government unit boils down to the resources and is founded on the public servants’ attitude, skills, and knowledge.
The mayor lauded the firefighters’ efforts not only in fire prevention and response but also in their response and assistance provided during vehicular traffic accidents and other emergencies.
Also, Mayor Odsey commended the owners and drivers of the private water delivery trucks for their help and assistance during fire incidents.
“I will end my third term with a happy heart because I know that I did my best for the fire department since the municipality initially had only one fire truck thus needing additional fire trucks to improve the municipality’s disaster preparedness and response,” he mentioned.
The blessing and thanksgiving ceremony was attended by Mayor Odsey, Mayor-elect Jerome Tudlong, Jr., personnel from the Office of the Provincial Fire Director headed by Acting Provincial Fire Director CINSP Edison Pino, and representatives from the Municipal Health Office (MHO) and Bontoc Municipal Police Station (MPS).