ILOILO City – Outgoing Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Region 6 director Chief Superintendent Jerry Candido took the helm of the BFP Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) effective Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Candido was replaced by Fire Chief Superintendent Felixberto Abrenica, the former director of directorate for operations of the BFP national headquarters.
In an interview with Panay News, Candido said his transfer was due to his overstaying in Western Visayas’ fire bureau. He had served as BFP-6 director for two years and eight months.
“Usually two years ina sia but I was given an opportunity to serve for more than two years. So whenever I go to national headquarters, gina-remind ko na sila I am already overstaying and time for me to go and handle another assignment, given a chance ayu ko sa ila RD [regional director) man gihapon,” he said.
As to his new area of assignment, Candido said that Mindanao is not new to him. He was previously assigned to Region 12 or Soccsksargen, formerly known as Central Mindanao.
Candidao, meanwhile, described his BFP-6 stint as very fruitful especially that he was promoted to one-star rank in his own home region.
“It’s very fruitful. Number one, I got my one-star here in my own region. My style of leadership was tested here also in my own region although damo naman naka-experience sa aton kay naka-hepe man kita sang Bacolod and Iloilo City for five and four years, respectively,” added Candido, a native of Guimbal, Iloilo.
He is also proud that he has been instrumental in changing the public’s common perception on firefighters being only good in firefighting.
This was evident, he said, on the increase in their rescue responses to road accidents, suicidal attempts, animal rescue, earthquakes, landslides, structure collapse, and other hazards.
“Bukambibig na sang mga tawo ang BFP Regional Office 6 kon kinahanglan sang search and rescue operation,” added Candido.
At times, he said, lack of equipment hindered firefighters’ rescue operations but city and municipal fire marshals would go to the local chief executives to ask for assistance.
“That was what we did and we were very successful,” the new BFP-9 director concluded./PN
