The new Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief of Panglao expressed concern over several business establishments in the resort town which have not complied with the Fire Code of the Philippines.
Fire Chief Insp. Raul Bustaliño told dyRD Balita on Thursday that even regional and national BFP officials took notice of inadequate fire safety equipment of some establishments in the town during inspections last year.
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Bustaliño said the BFP raised concern over the lack of emergency measures such as adequate sprinklers and fire exits during assessments made for the four Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in 2017 which were held in Panglao.
He also noted that the Panglao Fire Station remained severely undermanned, particularly as the town is expecting further development due to the nearing completion of the Panglao Bohol Airport.
“Daghan kaayog kulang mao nang mura’g balik gyud mi sa una ani, 15 ra mi kabuok ron apil na ang naa sa opisina maong undermanned kaayo mi, sauna 25 to kabuok”, he said.
Despite being understaffed, Bustaliño said that the town’s fire station will ramp up inspection of business establishments and the enforcement of the fire code.
The BFP team is comprised mainly of new firefighters, said the new fire chief who vowed to improve the image of the town’s fire station.
Bustaliño admitted that the three Bohol firefighters previously pinpointed by the BFP last year as having tested positive for drug use were previously assigned in Panglao.
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“Kadtong 3 ka personnel nga nag-positive sa drugs sa niaging tuig, gikan to sa Bohol, gikan to dinhi sa Panglao mao nang bag-o tanan ning personnel karon, gipangpulihan tong tanan sauna,” he added.
Bustaliño was the chief of the BFP Regional Operations Division before he was reassigned as the fire marshal of Panglao.
He formally took over as Panglao fire chief on January 8, while also holding the position as chief of the BFP’s Provincial Operations Division. (R. Tutas)