CHAPTER 3

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

This chapter presents the analysis and interpretation

of data gathered from the Bureau of Fire Protection-Mankayan

personnel who served as participants of this study. The data

presented has been organized according to the specific

problems enumerated in Chapter 1 of this study.

SOP1. What are the fire safety and awareness programs of

BFP-Mankayan?

SOP2. What are the strategies in the implementation of fire

safety and awareness programs of the BFP?

SOP3. What are the challenges in the implementation of the

fire safety and awareness programs of the BFP-

Mankayan?

THE FIRE SAFETY AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS OF THE BFP-MANKAYAN

Based on the interview, the programs of the BFP-

Mankayan are the Inspection of Public and Private Buildings,

Conduct of Seminars, Lectures and Fire Drills, Oplan Lakbay

Alalay, Oplan Kaluluwa, Oplan Ligtas na Pamayan, Oplan

Ligtas na Pamayanan in the New Normal, and Kiddie Fire

Marshal.

INSPECTION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS

 In accordance to the Section 5 and 7 of Republic Act

9514, private and government owned establishments are

required to secure Fire Safety Inspection Certificates

(FSIC) through the inspection of the BFP personnel. The FSIC

issued will serve as an assurance that a certain facility,

establishment, structure, building or occupancy has been

duly inspected by the BFP and has complied with the Fire

Code of the Philippines (Marcial, 2019).

Participant A mentioned “prior to this pandemic Covid-

19, our department has been conducting fire safety

inspection on government owned buildings like hospitals,

municipal halls, and other public buildings. And of course

the private establishments, we are conducting fire safety

inspection to these private establishments or buildings to

see to it that the establishment complies with the

provisions of the fire code”

The program ensures that owners of buildings and

facilities should comply with the Fire Code of the

Philippines before the issuance of the FSIC for occupancy

within the prescribed period most especially business

establishments. Yet, if the owners did not comply; an order

for closing of the business establishment will take place.

CONDUCT OF SEMINARS, LECTURES AND FIRE DRILLS

 As part of the fire safety mandates of the BFP, they

conduct seminars and lectures along with the fire drills.

This is to raise the importance of having the proper

equipment and training in times of emergency through

simulated exercises.

Participant A said “ginagawa din naming to, we are

conducting information-education campaign sa community and

sa barangays and of course the fire drill, we are also

conducting that” (we are also doing this, conducting

information-education campaign in barangays involving the

community, along with it is the conduct of fire drill).

To corroborate, the BFP-Los Banos together with the

University of the Philippines Open University(UPOU)Disaster

Risk Reduction Management Committee conducted a seminar on

fire prevention and fire drill that covers first aid and

disaster response as well as the demonstration of drills and

proper use of a fire extinguisher (University of the

Philippines Open University, 2017).

OPLAN LAKBAY ALALAY

This program is implemented only during Christmas

holiday celebrations. It aims to address the public about

fire safety through broadcast announcements and social media

posting regarding pyrotechnic products, Christmas lights and

electrically operated Christmas decorations. Also

firecracker sellers are required to secure their fire safety

certificates as a permit provided by the Bureau of Fire

Protection and inspection compliances. Whereas, business

establishments during the month of December are expected to

have fire extinguishers and signage of “No Smoking” in all

firecracker stalls.

Participant D stated “Din nay Oplan Lakbay Alalay ai

nay et man standby kami metlang sin kadan di highway for

emergency response mostly et sin panagbabakasyon ya sin

umaduan di tourista. Mostly metlang kadwa mi di pulis sin

checkpoints kasjy. Amey kmi sin kadan di station di bus or

van ay manpalagip sin dapat amagen. For example din

blowbagets di lugan ya safety sin uneg di houses sakbay

taynan tapno maiwasan di fire” ( During the Oplan Lakbay

alalay, we stand by on highways in order to respond in cases

of emergency. This is mostly done during vacations and in

the presence of a lot of long distant travelers. Thus, we

are also conducting checkpoints together with the police

officers as well as going to bus or van stations to give

necessary information. For example, the checking of

blowbagets in cars and safety inspection inside houses

before leaving to avoid fire.

OPLAN KALULUWA
 One of the programs that the bureau is implementing is

the Oplan Kaluluwa which is activated annually during

October 30 until November 2.

Participant A said that “We are also conducting

related programs that includes the inspection of

transportation terminals isa yun, tapos yung “Oplan Lakbay

Alalay , Oplan Lakbay Kaluluwa.” (We are also conducting

related programs including the inspection of transportation

terminals and the Oplan Lakbay Alalay, Oplan Lakbay

Kaluluwa)

Participant D added “din Oplan Kaluluwa aydoy et

programa d BFP gamin. Amey kami man emergency assistance kas

kada tumulong no sino man maitulong me. Wada metlang di

kakadwa me ay nurses ya trained medical responders gamin et

for example wada di nahimatay kakasjay mabalin kami

manresponde. Isigurado me di safety metlang yah itap tapi me

din protocols sin nay Covid ay nay metlng. Sin sidi man

iwaras kami metlang para si fire prevention and safety.”

(The Oplan Kaluluwa program of the BFP. We conduct emergency

assistance to help those in need. We are also joined by

nurses and trained medical responders. For example, if there

is someone who fainted we immediately respond. We ensure the

safety and we also include COVID protocols. In here, we

distribute fire prevention and safety.)

 To corroborate, this shows that during All Saints Day

and All Souls Day the BFP conducts emergency assistance in

cooperation with trained medical respondents to address

emergency situations. The bureau also conducts fire safety

inspection to all transport stations and terminals and

public cemeteries. In addition, the BFP conducts verbal

dissemination and distribution of flyers to ensure that fire

safety is observed during these times.

OPLAN LIGTAS NA PAMAYANAN

The BFP provided a fire protection plan as a response

for the ever growing demand for a more adoptive,

comprehensive and immersive fire safety program for the

community. There are four categories under the Oplan Ligtas

Na Pamayanan. The “Handang Pamayanan” or Ready Community,

“Bayanihan”or Cooperative Undertaking, “Kaagapay”or

Companion, and “Lingap” or Protective Care (Momblan, 2019).

Participant A states “then mainly this Oplan Ligtas na

Pamayanan includes the organization of the Community Fire

Auxiliary Group(CFAG) to all barangays of this municipality,

so these are some of our Programs as to fire safety

awareness”

Participant B corroborated that “nayunak dtoy “Oplan

Ligtas na Pamayanan” dtoy nga program tau enya nalawa gamin

ti sakop na daytoy ket ti mysa inaramid mi daytoy previous

years awan pi ti pandemic nagconduct kami piman ti training.

Nag buo kami ngy ti CFAG, Community Fire Auxiliary Group

dtoy Barangay Poblacion sunga adda ngy ti Fire Brigade nga

na form tau ditoy Barangay Poblacion nga katulungan mi nu

adda ti puor ksla nga nu kwa isuda umuna isuda ti mangbantay

mtlng ti Barangay tayo, nu rumisponde kami adda da nga

tumulong nga mang iwayat ti hose ta dakami latta ti

mangsuppress ijay puor, ngem isuda umun una mang anawa ti

tatta tao mang tulong kanyami, ta nalaka panag garaw tau

during fire suppression” ( in addition, the Oplan Ligtas na

Pamayanan covers a wide scope of activities. During the

previous years without the pandemic, we conducted trainings

and formed a group which is the Community Fire Auxiliary

Group in Barangay Poblacion that is why we have a Fire

Brigade in Poblacion to help us guard the community. They

are also tasked to help us when we respond to fire

incidents, they lay the fire hose and we suppress the fire

and to easily move they also managed to control the crowed).

OPLAN LIGTAS NA PAMAYANAN IN THE NEW NORMAL

As a response to the grip of the pandemic, the Bureau

of Fire Protection implemented the Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan

in the New Normal. Due to social restrictions, the bureau

adapts to the new normal as its primary purpose is to secure

the safety of the public. The BFP provides alternative fire

prevention activities following the Covid-19 protocols such

as OLP on the Road that conducts fire truck visibility on

specified areas with the use of the public address system,

Enhance Community Monitoring in coordination with CFAG, and

aggressive social media presence.

Participant A stated “another one is that, we are

conducting this OLP on the road in the New Normal whereby

sabi ko nga kanina we are utilizing the Public Address

System of the fire truck to dessiminate this fire safety

tips and not all fire safety tips”

He also added that, “We are doing this on scheduled

basis sa mga Barangays so kasama na to lahat ng mga

Barangays ng Municipality of Mankayan”

The BFP provides alternative fire prevention activities

following the Covid-19 protocols such as OLP on the Road

that conducts fire truck visibility on specified areas with

the use of the public address system, Enhance Community

Monitoring in coordination with CFAG, and aggressive social

media presence.

KIDDIE FIRE MARSHAL PROGRAM

Since children are the most vulnerable to fire, the BFP

targeted the education sector as part of the community by

launching a program in public and private schools. The

Kiddie Fire Marshal includes learners in the kindergarten

and grades 1 and 2.

Participant C said that “No dinnay Kiddie Fire Marshal

manmano lang ay program na ya. No wada lang di nawaya ay

budget kayman ah. Mostly et para da lang sin am amagen di

Bombero. Wada di skills lang bassit ay maisuro Kaman di Fire

Fighing kas kada basic first aid metlang. Ya maitap tapi

metlang di worskshops ya games.” (This Kiddie Fire Marshal

Participant B corroborated stating that “Aw nan conduct

kami si Kiddie Fire Marshals ed Sapid Golf Course involving

the children from kindergarten to grade 2.” (Yes, we

conducted Kiddie Fire Marshals in Sapid Golf Course

involving the children from kindergarten to grade 2.)

For instance, the Mankayan Fire Station Personnel in

partnership with the Local Government of Mankayan and

through the help of some sponsors conducted the first

Mankayan Summer Kiddie/Junior Fire Marshal Workshop on April

11 to 13, 2018 at the Convention Hall and Lepanto Golf Club

area. Wherein, the workshop was said to be attended by 72

schoolchildren from different barangays within the

municipality. The workshop included introduction to BFP,

fire-fighters job, fire fighters equipment, fire safety,

fire drills, earthquake drills, fire truck operation, and

basic first aid. (Gomez, 2018)

Also, based on the statistics from the Fire and Rescue

New South Wales Fire Investigation Unit that shows nearly 10

percent of fires are started by children because they are

fascinated by fire yet are unaware of the danger it may

bring and they often start experimenting with matches and

lighters on their own or when nobody is around. (Fire and

Rescue New South Wales, 2021)

This shows that these new program of the BFP aims to

teach the young ones the importance of fire safety in school

and at home and develop individuals who would practice fire

prevention at all times.

THE STRATEGIES OF BFP-MANKAYAN IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

FIRE SAFETY AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS

The BFP personnel enumerated and discussed their

strategies in the implementation of their programs. Namely,

the Use of the Public Address System, Distribution of

Brochures, Flyers, Leaflets, and Booklets, Use of Social

Media Platforms, Lectures and Training with the Municipal

Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC).

Social Media Platforms

 One of the strategies of BFP-Mankayan is the use of

social media platforms in implementing the fire safety and

awareness program of the bureau.

Participant A said that “in this time of Pandemic a the

Strategy that we are also doing is that yong nagpopost kami

sa social media platforms ahh. Fire Safety Prevention tips

dun pinopost naming.” (In this time of pandemic the strategy

that we utilize the use of social media platforms by posting

fire safety prevention tips.)

Participant A also added “kaya maganda itong social

media kasi pag yong nag ano jan sa facebook, nakikita nila

yong mga post namin na Fire Safety Tips o kahit na hindi

kami ahh pumupunta sa mga Barangays ah mababasa nila through

Social Media.”

For instance, in Cebu City, Chief Inspector Noel Nelson

Ababon of the BFP Regional Operations Division states that

the BFP-Region7 will utilize social media platforms in this

new normal to reach the people since most are staying at

home and are active in social media. (Sarana, 2021)

This indicates that the use of social media platforms

is necessary for the BFP in this time of pandemic to

continually inform the people about the fire safety and

awareness tips.
THE CHALLENGES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRE SAFETY AND

AWARENESS PROGRAMS OF THE BFP-MANKAYAN

On the other hand, the challenges of the BFP-Mankayan

in the implementation of the fire safety and awareness

programs for the community are the Pandemic, Remote Areas

and Road Problems, Lack of Trainings, Insufficient

Equipment, Lack of Personnel, Absence of Stand Pipe System,

Few Participants, Insufficient Funds.

Pandemic (COVID-19)

One of the challenges the BFP-Mankayan encountered

during the implementation of programs is the pandemic.

Participant A said that “Yong greatest challenge naming

ngayon is this Pandemic a hindi na kami makapunta punta ng

Barangay to conduct ng lectures o trainings kasi dito, itong

protocols under challenges in the implementations in

programs is that a not only the programs but our response.”

(Our greatest challenge today is this Pandemic. We cannot go

to Barangays to conduct lectures or trainings because of the

protocols.)

Participant A also added that “So napintas daytoy

program t government daytoy OPLAN LIGTAS PAMAYANAN, nu han

nagkapandemic nga lang full blown kuma implementation daytoy

nu haan nagkapandemic.” (So, this programs of the government

OPLAN LIGTAS PAMAYANAN, if not pandemic the implementation

of the programs would be full blown.)

To corroborate, as per Inter-Agency Task Force for

Emerging Infectious Disease (IATf-EID) issued Resolution No.

87 series of 2020 on December 3, 2020 as a response to the

threat of COVID-19. Mass gatherings that are essential for

the provision of government services such as seminars,

trainings, and lectures are allowed depending on the

classification of the community.

This indicates that due to the pandemic all activities

of the bureau are limited to avoid person-to-person contact,

thus preventing the spread of Covid-19.

REMOTE AREAS AND ROAD PROBLEMS

Roads provide critical access so that fire fighters can

easily suppress fire while it is still small and do the

least damage but communities are most likely delayed in

receiving emergency response and fire safety services due to

road problems and distant locations.

Participant A stated, “yung mga ano, inaccesibilty of

fire truck to remotes areas. Hindi nakakapasok ang fire

truck due to our narrow roads ganun, or talagang walang road

na pupunta doon sa certain Barangay” (The inaccessibility of

fire truck to remote areas because the fire truck cannot

pass through narrow roads or the absence of roads going to a

certain barangay).

To corroborate, participant B added, “nalipit dagijay

kalsada, dakkel jay truck tayo han maka uneg ijay barangay

maskaro nu adda puor ksla ditoy lang within the national

highway lang nga mausar. Adda mt jay babasit nga truck tayo

ngem kurang ngay, maskaro nu dakkel nga puor dayta so

kurang. Kasla ijay mapan ijay Barangay Balili mabalin jay

truck ngem rugged enya, han nga nasamento, rugged road, very

rough ta hantayo maka apan dagus ijay agresponde sunga nu

mamingsan ket ibaga da nga naladaw kanu bombero. Dyay ti

mysa explanation tau nu mamingsan” ( the roads are narrow,

the fire truck is big and it cannot enter the barangay

especially when there is fire. It is only used within the

national highway. We have the small fire truch but it is not

enough to suppress large fires. Just for example, in

barangay Balili, the fire truck can enter but the road is

rugged, unpaved and very rough that’s why we cannot respond

on time. Then some would say we responded late but that is

actually one of the reasons why were late).

In addition, fire fighters are in need of effective and

efficient access during an emergency for a rapid and

unhindered response. It is for the reason that poor and

inadequate access to any premises results to delays in

response and intervention and would directly impact the

lives of the occupants (Fire and Rescue New South Wales,

2019).

FEW PARTICIPANTS

One of the importance of conducting fire safety and

awareness programs by the BFP are the participants in the

community. As observed by the BFP personnel, only few were

participating in fire safety and awareness programs

involving the community. They even pointed that most of

those who were willing to participate in the said programs

were older adults like senior citizens and barangay

officials. One of the reasons they pointed out were due to

the lack of budget for food that participants are not

willing to join the lectures.

Participant B stated “During the previous years, kanayon

kami agconconduct ti training ken lectures, ti problems nag

bassit ngy ti participants. Siguro madi ti dadduma, busy da

siguro. Ti problema ditoy kasapulan mi ti pondo tanu ag

gather kami ditoy kt masapul pakanem isuda nya” (During the

previous years, we’ve been conducting training and lectures

regularly but the problem is there are only few

participants. Maybe because they don’t want to attend or

they are busy. The problem is that we needed budget because

if we gather them, we also need to feed them.

Insufficient Funds

One of the challenges encountered by the Bureau is the

insufficiency of funds.

Paricipant B said that “Addition, sa question no.5 nya

challenges, during the previous years, kanayon kami

agconconduct t training ken lectures, iti problema nag

bassit ngy t participants cguro madi t dadduma, busy, siguro

t problema dtoy kasapulan mi t pondo tapnu ag gather kami

dtoy kt masapul pakanem isuda nya, ket dyay t problema.”

(Addition, in question number 5 about the challenges, during

the previous years, we always conduct trainings and lectures

but the problem is the small numbers of participants. Maybe

others do not want to join, they are busy or maybe the

problem is that we need also funds to gather and feed them

which is one of the problem.)