DILG, BFP award 253 outstanding firemen

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=1&rid=840561
• Tuesday, December 22, 2015

(PNA), RMA/CLTC

MANILA, Dec 22 (PNA) -- Some 253 officials and personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) were recognized as Outstanding Firemen of the Year during the bureau’s 42nd Fire Service Recognition Day held at PNP Multi-Purpose Hall in Quezon City.

The Fire Service Recognition Day, a yearly undertaking to deserving firefighters which started almost four decades ago, paying tribute to the courageous efforts of 10 firefighters who perished in the infamous Rockwell Power Plant fire incident on Dec. 14, 1973. The tragedy was considered as one of the worst fire incidents in the history of the fire bureau.

“Kayo po ang mga bayaning minsan ay hindi napapansin sa gitna ng mga panganib na inyong sinusuong. Kahit na malagay sa alanganin, iniligtas ninyo ang buhay at ari-arian ng mga taong inyong pinagsisilbihan. The reason why you are called the unsung heroes,” Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento of the Department of the Interior and Local Government said.

Joining the Secretary to personally hand in the awards included DILG Undersecretary Atty. Peter Irving Corvera and BFP Director Chief Supt. Ariel Barayuga.

Among this year’s awardees are Sr. Insp. GIiezie A. Dauz and FO3 Richard Andrew A. Roces who demonstrated their courage when they assisted Mrs. Colyn Alcala in giving birth inside a taxi last Dec. 10, 2015 along Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon City. Despite the unavailability of proper equipment and a conducive place for child delivery, Dauz and Roces were instrumental in the successful normal delivery of Mrs. Alcala’s child. Each of them received the Medalya ng Kadakilaan Award.

Taguig City Fire Marshal Chief Insp. Junito F. Maslang and 22 of his personnel each received the Medalya ng Kadakilaan for their timely response to a structural collapse incident at Suites Construction Site, BGC, Taguig on Feb. 4, 2015.

Maslang and his team successfully aided 11 seriously injured employees, retrieved two bodies and rescued two severely injured trapped victims.

On the other hand, the Medalya ng Katapatan was awarded to the Inter-Agency Anti-Arson Task Force (IATF) Head Chief Supt. Samuel C. Tadeo and seven of his personnel for their honesty in returning the retrieved valuables amounting to Php 400,000 to the relatives of the owner of JD Calibration Shop who died due to a fire incident at Brgy. Tagbac, Jaro District, Iloilo City on July 15, 2015.

Other major awardees include Quezon City District Fire Marshal Sr. Supt. Jesus Fernandez, Sr. Supt. Roel Jeremy G. Diaz and District 3 Fire Marshal Supt. Ricardo Perdigon.