A new fire chief has been assigned to head the Bureau of Fire Protection in Tagbilaran City following a reshuffling of BFP personnel in Central Visayas.

According to SFO1 Emily Dumagan, Chief Insp. Marlito Bayoro who is a native of Alicia town officially took over the post on Monday.

Bayoro was the deputy chief of the Bohol Provincial Fire Station.

He was also previously assigned at the BFP’s national headquarters, Quezon City Fire Station 5, BFP 7 and Siquijor. 

Meanwhile, Bayoro’s predecessor, Senior Insp. Marlyn Macatangay was reassigned to the Toledo City Fire Station.

One of Macatangay’s achievements during her two-year stint as fire chief was pushing for the passage of a resolution at the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) requiring business establishment’s to undergo a fire prevention seminar.

“Tayo ang nauna sa Bohol na nag practice ng ganun kasi ang target natin dito is yun mga small establishments na hindi natin na lecture kasi yun usually affected sa cause ng fire,” Macatangay said.

Macatangay also spearheaded the establishment of the Tagbilaran City Cyclist for Fire Safety group which helped in disseminating information on fire prevention.

The former fire chief thanked the SP and Mayor Baba Yap for their support in the BFP’s programs during her tenure.

Macatangay had her hands full during her first months in office as two of the city’s largest fires in recent history took place under her watch.

These were the fires that razed the Cogon Public Market in Barangay Cogon and dozens of houses in a residential area in Barangay Booy. (A. Doydora)