Stronger defense vs Boracay fire incidents urged

Members of the local crisis committee sees more defense is needed against fire incidents as this resort island’s economy continues to grow due to its booming tourism industry.

Fire Inspector Sidgie Gerardo, chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Boracay, said the fire that hit the local seafood market on Monday morning damaged goods initially placed at
P10 million.

The fire ithat took place in Sitio Mangayad, Barangay Balabag,  Boracay Island, damaged seafood stalls, restaurants and souvenir shops. The fire lasted around four hours.

“The amount may continue to rise as our investigators are still assessing the incident. The fire started in a restaurant,” he said.

He added that  it took firefighters that long to control the fire because of the crowded establishments and narrow roads leading to the fire scene.

Mike Labatiao, a consultant of the Aklan provincial government on security, said he hopes every resort in Boracay would place their respective water outposts and fire hydrants.

“I would recommend to the Aklan provincial government that each resort must place water outposts. I also saw huge improvements in our crisis management as every sector had to do their respective jobs well. The traffic was put into order; firefighters responded in time. It was a job well done,” said Labatiao, who attended the crisis committee meeting held at the Boracay Regency Hotel.

Sources said because of the fire incidents, several employees—mostly waitresses and staff­—had to be displaced by their employers as the damaged establishments take time to rebuild.

Randall Parker, an American expat and a coast guard auxiliary volunteer, said he opened his Boracay Crown Beach Hotel as a temporary shelter for fire victims for free.

“At least four families availed themselves of free rooms at my hotel. I am not allowed to showcase them for publicity, but hearing the stories of the fire victims. They deserve respite,” he said.

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Malay, Aklan, recorded at least 135 families displaced by the
fire incident.

Relley David, one of the owners of the burned establishments, said this is the third time his stall was gutted by fire.

“I had to rebuild again,” he said.