CEBU FILIPINO-CHINESE VOLUNTEERS FIRE BRIGADE, INC.

A Brief History

Concerned with the frequent occurrence of disastrous fires in Metro Cebu during the past few years prompted the idea of organizing a Volunteer Fire Brigade in Cebu and was conceived by MINISTER JUAN PONCE ENRILE, Ministry of Defense and Lt. Col. Zosimo Angan, then Cebu PC/INP Superintendent, was given the task of implementation. The objective of organizing the fire brigade is to assist the government in its fire prevention program in its respective areas and to assist the Metro Cebu Firefighters in controlling and extinguishing fires.

On May 26, 1977, a meeting was called by Lt. Col. Zosimo Angan with various representatives from the Filipino Chinese United Community with the presence of our Provincial Governor, City Mayor And Fire marshal, at the Recom 7 Conference Room. During that meeting, the Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade (CFCVFB) was formally organized.

Subsequent meeting took place to discuss the mechanics of the operation of the fire brigade. It was agreed that the organization would provide its own fire fighting equipment, the location (Station or Base) and personnel who will be trained on fire fighting operations by the Metro Cebu Fire District.

The response of the members of the Filipino-Chinese community was warm and enthusiastic. The Gaisano family made an initial contribution with a portion of the old White Gold, Inc. lot at Legaspi Street that it provided free of use to the Cebu Filipino Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade (CFCVFB) for three years to be utilized as base station.

On October 17, 1979, the ground breaking ceremony took place with the presence of Mayor Florentino S. Solon, the Fire District commander, and prominent members of the Filipino-Chinese community of Cebu City. Six months later, the construction of the Station was completed.

While the construction of the fire station was going on, three (3) fire engines were purchased. To insure an ample supply of water, a Supertanker with a water tank capacity of 3,500 U.S. gallons was purchased. The Supertanker serves as a  mobile water reservoir. Two (2) service cars were added to their fire fighting capabilities.

Manning the fire station was studied. Massive recruitment among members of the Filipinio-Chinese community was launched. The response was tremendous from among Filipino-Chinese college students. Rigid screenings of applicants were conducted. These students will serve at the fire station during their vacant hours from school aside from the usual time allotted for their night duties.

Training of volunteers was held every Wednesday evening from 6:00 PM to 10:30PM for lectures on the theoretical aspects of fire fighting and on Sunday mornings from 5:00AM to 9:00AM for the practical wet and dry drills. Two qualified officers of the Metro Cebu Fire District conducted the training with the whole hearted support of Mayor Florentino S. Solon, competent trainers were assigned to handle training.

The Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade, Inc. (CFCVFB) being a civic and service oriented, non-stock and non-profit organization, relies on the voluntary donations of the members of the community to fund its operations. Voluntary contributions, therefore, are welcome to defer some fixed expenses such as lights, telephone, water and other miscellaneous expenditures. Subsequently, operating cost and over head expenses have been kept to a minimum considering majority of the Brigade members are volunteers and do not receive any remuneration. Only through the support of citizens has this organization successfully carry out its objectives.

In 1981, the Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade, Inc. (CFCVFB) became a member of the Association of the Philippine Volunteers Fire Brigade, Inc. (APVFB). Information regarding new fire fighting techniques have been handed down to the Cebu Filipini-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade (CFCVFB) from time to time by the Manila Head Office of the Association of the Phil. Volunteers Fire Brigades, Inc. (APVFB) to improve and update fire fighting know-how of

In May 15, 1983. CFCVFB was relocated to the old Chong Hua Hospital School of Nursing located at the Cebu Memorial Foundation, Inc. compound, Don j. Llorente Street, barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City. Mr. David Chu Tek Chen also donated two (2) units Kombi service vehicles for the Brigade’s use on December 1983.

In that same year another second hand reconditioned water tanker was added to the unit’s firefighting force courtesy of a donation from the Fort San Pedro Hiker’s Club in recognition of the unit’s community service and to help improve the unit’s firefighting capability. This was a welcome addition.

In recognition of its invaluable service to the community the unit was given numerous awards and citations, including the Presidential Citation, in 1993, from the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

From the time the group started responding, to fire alarms in 1980 up to 1993, using old model fire trucks, and trucks reconfigured into fire trucks, the units were always kept in good running and operating condition thanks to the efforts, resourcefulness, ingenuity and dedication of its maintenance crew of volunteer members.

Thus, it was most welcome that, in 1993, the Numazu City Jaycees, through the representation efforts of the Cebu Jaycees, was able to arrange for a donation to the CFCVFB of used, but newer-model, fire trucks, comprising of a fire engine and two (2) units fire pumpers to augment its fleet of aging, yet serviceable, fire trucks.

In 1996, after a visit by government officials from Xiamen City of the People’s Republic of China to the CFCVFB fire station, and after being apprised of what the organization has done to serve its community, the Municipal Government of Xiamen City donated a brand-new fire truck to the organization, as a gesture of goodwill and in appreciation of the noble work being undertaken by the group, in order to further augment the group’s fire-fighting capability. This was followed, in 1998, of another donation of a similar brand-new fire truck to the organization from the same donor.

In late 1998, the old and dilapidated CFCVFB fire station was torn-down to give way to a new and better facility to house the organization’s office, sleeping and recreational quarters for the volunteer firemen, conference room, multi-purpose function hall, stock room for supplies and equipment, tool room and mess hall. The new building is slated for completion and turn-over by end of June 1999. Likewise, the garage housing the fire apparatus shall have been renovated to guard against the deleterious effects of the elements.

In the planning stage, with the continued outpouring of support, both from the public and the private sectors, both domestic and international, the CFCVFB and its volunteers hereby reiterate their commitment and dedication in serving the Cebuano community just like when all began in 1980.

The CFCVFB has proved to be very useful in fighting conflagrations in the Metro Cebu area and has been at the forefront of the constant effort to protect Metro Cebu from destructive fires, working shoulder-to-shoulder with regular firemen. This form of community service has earned for the brigade the admiration of the public for which various awards have been received by CFCVFB.

AWARDS RECEIVED