BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The National Emergency 911 is strengthening the emergency hotline by working for its localization in all the provinces, cities, and municipalities in the country. 

National Emergency 911 Executive Director Francis Fajardo shared this in his keynote message during the opening of the Bureau of Fire Protection’s National Fire Olympics (NFO) at the Melvin Jones football grounds in Baguio City on March 19. He also called for a continuing partnership with emergency responders, and volunteers to ensure prompt and efficient service during times of distress.

Fajardo said that the goal under the fundamental principles of the “Bagong Pilipinas” brand of governance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is to establish local call centers, and command centers nationwide, in every province, city, and municipality, to ensure prompt and efficient response in times of calamities, fires, and other incidents.

For a fast and effective response to fire incidents and other emergencies, Fajardo advocated for continuing and strengthening partnerships with the 2024 NFO competitors composed of BFP personnel, community fire brigades, and industrial firefighters from different regions of the country.

“The ambitious goal of ensuring a fire-safe nation requires collaboration- the BFP, local government units, volunteers, and private sectors, all working towards the same objectives. Today exemplifies that goal as participants from the BFP, barangays, and industrial sectors unite as one regional team, striving for victory.”

 “Similarly, the Emergency 911 of the DILG works alongside our partners to achieve its goal. Our task is clear, bridge gaps and establish coordination to primary support responders, and major support service responders to deliver prompt and efficient services in times of distress. We must empower the people through an emergency system that involves all of you, our unsung heroes,” Fajardo said.

The three-day 8th National Fire Olympics gathered around 1,600 competitors from the 17 regional offices of the BFP, and several community fire auxiliary groups and industrial firefighting teams from across the country. They hurdled competitions and challenges from different scenarios simulated from real firefighting operations, emergency responses, and rescue discipline.

BFP chief Fire Director Louie Suralta Puracan emphasized the importance of the National Fire Olympics, both in further improving the skills of the country’s firefighters, and in strengthening camaraderie among them.

“This Fire Olympics is very important as the landscape of firefighting has already changed. It now cuts across regions and boundaries, so our response now is already national in scope. This will serve as an evaluation on how skilled they are, and the contingents here are really the best of the best in the country, with each region sending their best firefighters,” Puracan said. (CCD-PIA CAR)