Nine years on, HAPI still hasn’t stopped helping people and raising awareness of good causes. On March 18, 2023, HAPI-Bulacan hosted its inaugural Fire Prevention Month Awareness Campaign at Malolos City, Bulacan. The event, prepared by chapter secretaries Carol Aguilar and Maria Rita Adriano, took place in Pinagbakahan Elementary School withan estimated 80 attendees.
The City of Malolos’ Bureau of Fire Protection Regional Office 3 (BFP R3) discussed topics centered on basic fire safety with the goal of teaching children fire safety awareness, reminding everyone of the best practices to avoid fire risk, conducting performance activities, and providing children with fire prevention handouts to review. Certainly, a safer community will result from the combination of information and application of what they have learned.
In the Philippines, March is considered one of the hottest months. Temperatures and humidity are at their peak throughout the archipelago. As a result, it is also designated as Fire Prevention Month by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). March is also the month with the highest number of fires in the country, resulting in the BFP, government entities, firefighting organizations, and educational institutions engaging in different fire prevention initiatives.
Accordingly, the BFP is also tasked with preventing and suppressing all types of damaging fires, investigating their origins, enforcing fire-related legislation, providing emergency medical and rescue services, and anchoring the Fire Prevention Month events, which are held every March. Out of care, HAPI-Bulacan urged the children of Pinagbakahan to learn safety procedures when working with items that can catch fire. The majority of the mishaps are caused by unattended candles, mosquito incense, gasera (gas lamp), and appliances that are left plugged in. The chapter hopes that by creating awareness, we will be able to create a fire-free community.
Fire prevention is a humanistic endeavour as it helps save lives and families’ livelihoods. In humanism, we believe in helping people without divine intervention; plainly speaking, it is our responsibility as humans to look after one another. We may not have extraordinary powers like fictional heroes but we have real heroes who can teach us how to prevent something bad from happening.
HAPI would like to express its utmost gratitude to the team of BFP R3-City of Malolos for conducting the training and hosting the event; not only did they educate all the attendees, but they helped them understand the essential part of school safety protocols and ensured that students, teachers, and staff are prepared for emergencies and can react appropriately if a fire or other emergency occurs. HAPI would also wish to thank barangay official Enzo Versoza for supporting the advocacy.
