Chevron and BFP teach Pandacan residents about firefighting 101

The official local provider of Caltex fuels and lubricants, Chevron Philippines, Inc. (CPI), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) recently gave residents of Barangay 834 in Pandacan, Manila a crash course in firefighting. This is to prepare them to respond quickly in times of emergencies.

According to Barangay Chairwoman Remedios Uy, their town relied heavily on Chevron’s Pandacan Oil Depot since the 1920's for keeping them safe from accidents and disasters. This was due to the oil firm’s stringent priority over the area’s safety and disaster management.

Chevron always prioritized safety and disaster risk management programs. And because of our proximity to the terminal, they are always among the first provided us with firefighting assistance,” she added.

However, when the oil depot shut down, the town’s people began worrying about how they’d be able to combat such occurrences. Fortunately, Chevron heeded their concerns thus teaming up with BFP as well as the non-government organization (NGO), Venture for Fund Raising, to teach the residents about firefighting 101. This was carried out through a workshop with lectures and hands-on exercises for barangay volunteers.

The town was also given 15 sets of fire extinguishers with strategically-located cabinets for fast access. Moreover, the volunteers were also awarded with Caltex jackets for successfully completing the workshop. Also in return for BFP’s services, Chevron donated a fresh supply of firefighting equipment to the trainers.

As this training exercise becomes a routine for the residents with help from BFP-Manila, Chairwoman Uy expressed that, “We are very grateful to Chevron for teaching us to be confident in dealing with emergency situations. This legacy of self-dependence will remain with us for a long time.”