Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called on the government to strengthen its fire prevention measures amid El Niño conditions in the country.

Gatchalian made the call as he distributed food aid to fire victims in Puerto Princesa City.

He also noted the upcoming observance of Fire Prevention Month in March.

“Dahil nagbibigay ang El Nino weather phenomenon ng karagdagang panganib na magkaroon ng mga insidente ng sunog, kailangan nating tulungan ang ating mga kababayan na magkaroon ng ibayong kaalaman sa paghahanda para mapigilan ang mga insidente ng sunog sa bansa (Because the El Niño phenomenon brings increased risk of fires, we need to help give our countrymen the proper knowledge in terms of preparation to prevent fires in the country),” Gatchalian said.

The senator distributed a total of 341 sacks of rice, amounting to P426,250 to 682 families that were displaced by fire in Barangay Bagong Silang and Barangay Pagkakaisa in Puerto Princesa City.

News reports indicated that the fire was aggravated by the congestion of houses made of light materials in the two barangays, as well as the presence of strong winds

Gatchalian also personally visited the evacuation center to see the conditions of the affected families and assess the overall situation.

“Hindi lamang ito simpleng tulong, ito’y isang pangakong kasama natin sa pag-ahon mula sa pagsubok. Naniniwala ako na ang bawat pamilyang tinutulungan natin ay magtatagumpay sa pagbangon, at sa kanilang tagumpay, lalong lalakas ang pundasyon ng ating mga komunidad (This is not a simple aid, this is a promise of recovery from the trials you faced. I believe that every family we help will triumph in their return, and in their victory, the foundation of our communities will strengthen),” Gatchalian said.

According to the lawmaker, appropriate fire prevention campaigns, particularly in poor communities, would enable residents to effectively address fire hazards and deter such incidents effectively.

Gatchalian said prevention measures include the proper handling of kitchen tools and equipment.

The principal author of the LPG Industry Regulation Act, Gatchalian emphasized the importance of educating consumers about the proper handling of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is a potential fire hazard if not managed correctly. Over 50 percent of Filipino households depend on LPG for their daily cooking needs.

Republic Act (RA) No.11592 aims to fill in regulatory gaps in the industry, including ensuring the removal of unsafe tanks from circulation to prevent LPG-fire-related incidents.

The law also institutionalizes the cylinder exchange and swapping program to allow consumers to bring any brand of empty LPG cylinder to any retail outlet and use it to purchase another brand of LPG cylinder carried by the retail outlet.