Phil. Daily Inquirer, April 15, 2007
It took one fire to demoralize them and over 200 more to restore their pride in themselves.
Since the big fire of 2003 that razed two communities and killed an elderly woman in their neighborhood, the firefighters of Barangay E. Rodriguez, Quezon City have battled almost 300 fires—and overcame most of them.
Their secret? Having their very own fire department, something not very common among barangays in Metro Manila.
“We had looked into the possibility of having our own fire-fighting facility since I was elected in 1989,” Jaime Borres, barangay chair of E. Rodriguez which covers a big portion of the Cubao area, said in an interview with the Inquirer.
He said his barangay was especially vulnerable to fire because of the presence of many depressed communities.
“Fire often originates from these cramped communities, with their poorly constructed shanties and electricity problems,” the barangay official pointed out.
According to Borres, the barangay council decided in the early 1990s to concentrate the community’s resources on acquiring fire-fighting equipment.
“It took us a while to do it because the equipment were really expensive,” he said.
But then a fire hit Ermin Garcia Street in Cubao and the plan gained urgency. The next year, the barangay was able to buy its own fire truck.
“We realized the tragedy could have been prevented if we had only pushed through with our (plan),” Borres said.
Later, the barangay would buy expensive breathing apparatuses, imported helmets, large bolt cutters and axes, and fire hoses totaling 800 feet.
In addition to its own fire-fighting equipment, the barangay also has its own ambulance which is operated by Barangay E. Rodriguez Rescue and Disaster Team executive officer Jet Tolentino. The vehicle was donated by Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor Jr.
“All these equipment are housed in our very own fire department at the barangay hall, complete with a fireman’s pole,” Borres said with pride.
The fire department operates round-the-clock, its firemen working on eight-hour shifts. The eight resident firefighters work full time, each receiving a pay of P8,000 monthly.
“That amount is still too low and I am working to have their salaries increased,” Borres said, adding that the firemen started with a monthly pay of P5,000.
Initially concentrating on protecting their own barangay, the firefighters were soon responding to incidents outside their area. And they did not limit themselves to just putting out blazes.
“Weird incidents such as people climbing up billboards have also became part of our business,” Barangay E. Rodriguez fire chief Hermie Sol said with a laugh.
Borres added that their fire truck also distributes water to communities in the city, especially during the dry summer months.
“We supply Sitio Payong—a hilly residential area—with water regularly, helping 400 families in the process,” the barangay chair said.
Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. The fire department, though not officially connected with the Bureau of Fire Protection or the popular Chinese-Filipino volunteer fire brigades, was recognized by the Department of Interior and Local Government for its contributions to the community in December 2005.
“More importantly though, we are happy to note that the residents in our area and the surrounding barangays have been positively responding to us,” Borres said.
He noted that people have started calling their hotline (4380518) even during the wee hours of the night to ask for help.
“It feels good that they trust us with things as minor as putting out an electrical spark,” Borres said.
