CEBU CITY – A group of female fighters is out to prove that they can be counted upon in a male-dominated profession.

Fifteen female firefighters have been tasked to man the Pardo Fire Substation in this city, the first-ever Central Visayas manned by firewomen.

“We want to showcase them in a profession that is dominated by men. We didn’t just assign them in the office but we included them in the fighting force,” said Senior Fire Officer 2 (SFO2) Wendell Villanueva, spokesperson of the Cebu City Fire Department.

Villanueva said the 15 female firefighters are well-trained.

“They are equally capable to do their job, firefighting, rescue, and everything. They are well-trained like their male counterparts,” said Villanueva.

Villanueva said putting a fire substation with an all-female crew also is also one way of promoting gender equality.

“What we are trying to promote here is that we are for gender equality. Whatever opportunities that will be given to men should also be afforded to women,” Villanueva said.

The fire substation is headed by SFO4 Anadith Trasporte.

Trasporte said she didn’t hesitate accepting the challenge of heading an all-female fire personnel and assured that they are up to the task.

“Whatever happens, these female firefighters of Pardo Fire Substation will not back down. We can do it, we are ready to face the challenge,” said Trasporte.

Trasporte said her constant reminder to her personnel is to not get intimated especially when tension breaks out during fire incidents. “We doubled our effort in our refresher course as well as in our physical training,” Trasporte said.

Eight barangays are part of Pardo Fire Substation’s area of jurisdiction – Bulacao, Poblacion Pardo, Inayawan, Cogon Pardo, Quiot, Kinasang-an, Basak Pardo, and Sinsin.