29 Pass Intensive Emergency Responders Training

It was supposed to be like any other day.

Fire hit the Materials Management Department (MMD) warehouse and reports of a number of injuries and casualties soon spread among the offices.

First Farmers Holding Corporation (FFHC) employees were going about their usual late morning work routines and preparing to clear their desks to make room for plates and bowls for lunch.  Some were already in their two mouthful of rice when a fire warning was heard all over the mill. 

Employees immediately dropped what they were doing and scampered to a designated evacuation area.

A number of firetrucks and ambulance vehicles were seen rushing in and out of the MMD vicinity as firefighters and rescuers were busy containing the fire and responding to the injured and employees trapped inside the building.

But there was never really an actual fire and there were really no actual casualties.

The simulated fire scenario was part of the five-day Fire and Emergency Response training conducted by the Talisay City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) with pre-selected FFHC employees last December 2 – 6, 2019 at the First Farmers Training Center.

The training is an annual undertaking of the BFP and CDRRMC with FFHC as part of the group’s emergency readiness program.  The conduct of the exercise is also a requirement in the issuance of the BFP’s Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) that evaluates the company’s capability and readiness in responding to any natural or man-made emergencies.

Twenty-nine (29) employees have managed to survive the rigorous training which includes actual fire fighting activities and rescue simulations from top of buildings as well as first aid treatments and search and rescue operations.

Successfully passing the weeklong seminar-workshop were Janmel Miatapal, Danilo Tapalla, John Mark Veniegas, Gypsy Bonifacio, Humphrey Michael Lala, Saturnino Catubig Jr., Adrian Tubianosa, Christian Castellano, Patrick Owen Cumbalon, Modesto Villalva III, Joseph Quiben, Cherlito Villaram Jr., Hernando J. Bauden Jr.,  Dave Gargavite, Vincent Erasmo, Limuel Benedian, Paulo Cortez, Teegy Gallego, Sarji Jan Segovia, Rheo Mabasa, Jefferson Paderes, Rhoderick Perez, Franz Viviene Advincula, Patrick John Asan, Noville Ablao, Joselito Pahilona, Fernando Donguines Jr., Casper Apinan, and Jhoebe Von Velarde.

The training was an undertaking of FFHC’s Environment and Safety Section (ESS) headed by Frans Viviene Advincula under the supervision of Jhoebe Von Vhelarde of the Office of the General Manager.

“It was physically taxing and intensive.  The volunteers had their challenging moments but everyone pulled through.  In the end, it was an experience worth taking for all of us.  We are better first responders at the end of the workshop”, Advincula notes.

Meanwhile, Velarde relayed the company’s appreciation to the BFP and CDRRMC for their continued support to FFHC’s capability building initiatives.