BFP to activate marine

rescue opcenter in Lila

CORTES, Bohol, Nov 4 (PIA) –Even before self-confessed pro-environmentalists could finally take a second hard look at the ongoing whaleshark feeding and watching activity in Taug, Lila Bohol, the Bureau of Fire Protection, getting proactive on the real threat or life endangerment in the marine wildlife inter-action, proposes to activate a Unified Marine Operation Center (UMOC) in Lila, Bohol.

Fire Senior Inspector Servando Jumawid Jr., bared this at the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), presenting the future big ticket plans of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Bohol at the full council regular meeting.

The UMOC, complete with an inhouse Marine Rescue Force, would be jointly manned by the BFP, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the whale-shark feeding and watching area in Barangay Taug.

The issue of environmental sustainability of the whale shark feeding for the whale-shark watching activity has been a shunned issue among self-confessed environmentalists who know that sustainability and wildlife protection and preservation runs in contrast with the feeding activity.

The same feeding activity also endangers the wild marine animals from close human encounters including injuries for the wild and migratory whale sharks that could be harmed by propellers, paddles or even the over inquisitive swimmer who strays into the wild-life danger zones.

For the accident waiting to happen while legislators tarry on the issue of immediate action before anything untoward happens especially when it involves the safety of tourists, the BFP also proposes for the activation of the Bohol provincial Special Rescue Force (SRF) to be based at the Tagbilaran City Fire Station.

And while doing so, the BFP, according to Jumawid who reports for the Provincial Fire Marshal Fire Superintendent Raul Bustaliño, said of the 47 towns and a city, BFP also needs to activate strategic SRFs in Panglao, Talibon and Garcia Hernandez, all with Basic Life Support, Rubber Boat Operation Course, Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue and the activation of Unified Emergency Operations Centers in Tubigon, Getafe, Ubay, Garcia Hernandez and Panglao.

Anytime soon too, BFP would be starting the construction of a P30M BFP Bohol Provincial Fire Office Station in the government lot in Barangay Malayo Norte, Cortes town.

This would also be complemented by another P20M typical Fire Station Buildings in Tagbilaran City, Candijay Fire Station, Danao Fire Station, Lila Fire Station, Dimiao Fire Station and Trinidad Fire Stations, Jumawid reported.

At 601 active personnel, BFP Bohol has 92 fire trucks, 3 ambulance units, a rescue boat, 19 typical fire stations and 5 ongoing construction, they have responded to 76 fire incidents from may to September 2023 alone. (PIAbohol)

MARINE RESCUE. As the government agencies concerned could not decide yet what to do with the whale shark-feeding and watching activity involving tourists in Lila, Bohol, BFP is putting up a pro-active special rescue unit housed at the Unified Marine Operations Center as quick response and rescue team to act on any untoward incident, especially when involving tourists. (PIAbohol)