Romblon State University (RSU) recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in a bid to implement a sustainable program on fire safety.
RSU President Dr. Merian P. Catajay-Mani, DILG Provincial Director Frederick C. Gumabol, BFP Provincial Fire Director Supt. Ramel B. Borja, RSU Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), OIC Director Edgar V. Andalecio, RSU-DRRMO Coordinator Alphee F. Lachica, and other officials from the agencies were present during the signing on November 5 at the RSU Main Campus.
Under the terms of the MOU, RSU, through the DRRMO, will engage in the complete execution of fire safety measures in the main campus and its branches around the province to train all students and employees and provide them with information about the importance of fire prevention.
In response to RA 10121's mandate to institutionalize disaster management, DRRMO runs the University's Fire Safety and Awareness Program (FSAP).
FSAP was activated last year via an office order to establish specific roles, responsibilities, and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for the university's fire safety and awareness program.
“As a university, it is important to be aware of disaster mitigation and prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation through series of lectures, seminars, and drills to be done regularly so that all faculty, staff, and students are assured of their safety,” said Edgar V. Andalecio, OIC Director of RSU-DRRMO.
The role of DILG-BFP is to take charge of the prevention and suppression of all destructive fires through rigorous fire safety inspections, the conduct of fire prevention education programs and drills, and the provision of medical aid to victims of fire and accidents and other related hazards.
This partnership is part of the National Risk Management Plan (NDRMP) which enhances the capacity of local DRRMOs to a coherent, integrated, efficient, and responsive risk management at all levels, which is what this inter-agency agreement aims to achieve.
