DILG: Alert BFP on fires via text

After several fires broke out in Metro Manila in the past few weeks, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged the public to alert firefighters of a blaze via text by sending a message to 0918-6888888. DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo made the call after the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Metro Manila signed an agreement with TXTFire Philippines Foundation Inc. to use the messaging system. “This system will prove to be very useful especially with the onset of summer and the Lenten season when everybody must be extra cautious as most of the fires usually occur during this time of the year," Robredo said in an article posted on the government portal. Robredo said the public can send text information about a fire in progress and its exact location to TXTFire's number 0918-6888888. Those who signed the agreement were BFP Metro Manila head Chief Superintendent Santiago Laguna and TXTFire president Gerry Chua, with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim as witness. Laguna said this partnership will make it easier for the public to report fires in their areas and for the BFP to dispatch a team to respond to the incident. Messages, alerts, advisories and other information about fires, calamities and emergencies generated by TXTFire facilities will be relayed to BFP-National Capital Region and other fire volunteer groups who will quickly proceed to the site to respond to the incident. Both parties have also agreed to keep an open radio communication line to facilitate quick access on fire alerts. TXTFire, which Chua founded, has 228,000 members nationwide and more than 4,200 volunteer groups. On Tuesday, at least 900 houses were destroyed while P9 million worth of property went up in smoke when a fire razed a residential compound in Makati City. On Wednesday night, more families were rendered homeless after another fire razed houses in two compounds in Parañaque City. Both fires reached the general alarm, summoning firefighters from all over Metro Manila. - VVP, GMA News