Even the Finest Fire Station Cries for Help

The Paco Fire Station is considered the best in the country because of the dedication of its firefighters. However, they still lament the lack of government support and the passage of a law that could prevent older firefighters from being promoted and consequently getting a higher salary.

BY AUBREY MAKILAN
Bulatlat

Since 1929, the Paco Fire Station has been serving residents in various areas of the city of Manila. In fact, hanging on its walls are several plaques of recognition and commendation from government and private institutions. There are still other plaques just kept in a box since the station’s walls have run out of space. The Paco Fire Station was commended for, among others, discovering ketamine last year amounting to $1.6 million from a supposedly burning house in Paco and saving some residents from a burning building in Binondo in January.

Fire Officer 2 Ronald Lim with their out-of-order snorkel fire truck (background)                 PHOTO BY AUBREY MAKILAN

The firefighting team also takes pride in being one of the cleanest fire stations in Metro Manila.

Despite these achievements, Fire Officer 2 (FO2) Ronald Lim lamented they are being forgotten “pagdating sa biyaya.” (when it comes to blessings)

They can no longer use their snorkel fire truck which is very helpful when they need to climb burning high-rise structures. But because of the high cost of repair, they were forced to just park it in their garage.

Another lament was their lack of protective gear. Senior Fire Officer 2 (SFO2) Danilo Galang, officer-in-charge of the station, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) gave them seven sets of fire coats and boots only last December. However, he said that these are not enough, given that there are 26 personnel at the Paco Fire Station and 20 of them are actual firefighters.

Before getting the seven sets of coats and boots, Galang said that they used jackets instead of fire coats and rubber boots instead of real firefighters’ boots. They never had breathing apparatus essential for their survival when entering structures on fire.

Meanwhile, Lim said that they find their own means when it comes to the maintenance of their station. When they had to repaint their station in 2001, they asked a paint company for donation. In return, the company took pictures of the station before and after the painting that it used for its advertisement.

Aside from the equipment, another sentiment raised was the low salary and the passage of Republic Act No. 9263, which contained the professionalization of the BFP and other government agencies.

Galang said that because of this law, older firefighters may not have the chance to be promoted since they now have to pass the Civil Service Commission examination, a requirement for promotion under RA No. 9263.

But even if they are demoralized due to lack of equipment and inadequate salary, Galang said that their performance and dedication to their duty have never been sacrificed even if they themselves had to make their own. Bulatlat 

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