Water gun challenge, bucket relay, and simulated evacuation drill were some of the activities performed by the learners with special needs during the Fire Olympics 2025 in the province of Siquijor. (RAC/PIA7)
LARENA, Siquijor (PIA) — Around 120 children with special needs participated in the Fire Olympics 2025 conducted by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in partnership with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
This year’s Fire Olympics involved for the first time the students enrolled in the Special Needs Education (SNED) program of DepEd.
Fire Insp. Rhoderic Jamarolin, caretaker of the Office of the Provincial Fire Marshal and Acting Municipal Fire Marshal of the Siquijor Fire Station, emphasized the importance of involving the vulnerable sectors in the community in BFP’s safety and preparedness campaigns.
“Mao ni sila atong tudloan kay kasagaran mao ra gyud ni silay mabilin. Akong nakita nga wala pa gyud ni sila matudloi kabahin ani,” said Jamarolin during the Kukabildo/Kapihan sa PIA conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Siquijor.
(That is why we teach them because they are usually left out. I feel that they have not been taught about this.)
Jamarolin said that in the previous BFP-initiated fire drills or earthquake drills, children with special needs were not included.
“Mao nang amo gyud ni silang gitagaan ug higayon nga motudlo mi nila. Iagi ra namo ug mga games. Tudloan namo sila unsaon pag-evacuate sa building, unsaon pagpalong sa kalayo,” he said.
(This is why we are giving them the opportunity to teach them. We will just go through games. We will teach them how to evacuate a building, how to put out a fire.)
The activity featured a simulated evacuation drill designed to be engaging and accessible for children with varying needs.
DepEd Schools Division Superintendent Rosalie M. Pasaol lauded the BFP for their compassion and commitment in educating learners with special needs on safety prevention skills and other necessary information.
“By this time we are giving importance, giving value to our students with special needs. Atong ipadayon ang pagsuporta nila. Mas kinahanglan sila sa atong pagpangga ug pag-amuma,” said Pasaol.
(Let us continue supporting the children with special needs. They need our love and care the most.)
She said the public schools are advocating inclusive education, which means streamlining them into the regular class.
“We don’t want to put a label sa atoang mga pupils or students with special needs. Giusab na gani ang ngalan, dili na siya SPED, kadtong Special Education but SNED,” said Pasaol.
(We don’t want to put a label on our students with special needs. We even changed the name SPED to SNED.)
Special Needs Education (SNED) refers to DepEd’s educational program and support services designed to cater to the unique learning needs of students with disabilities or diverse abilities.
SNED aims to ensure that all learners, regardless of their special needs, have access to inclusive and quality education. (RAC/PIA7-Siquijor)
