The Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO)-911 team emerged as champion in the Volunteer Fire Brigade team relay team category of the recently-concluded Fire Olympics held at the Davao Global Township in Matina.
CDRRMO-Central 911 relay team of Roy Albert Acierto, Rosalio Balili, Semon Gubal Jr., Bobby Subteniente, and Rosibal Apordo bested nine other contenders to capture the championship trophy and cash prize.
Vinji Sendrijas, also of CDRRMO-Central 911, ruled the Strongest Man event of the Volunteer Fire Brigade individual category with a time of two minutes and eight seconds.
The coaching staff was composed of Salvador Sendrijas (head coach), Jay Michael Apura (assistant coach), and Roland Tuna (team captain).
CDRRMO Fire Auxiliary Service (FAS) Unit chief Salvador O. Sendrijas, in an interview with the City Information Office (CIO) said it was the first time that their office was invited by the Davao City Fire District Office of the Bureau of Fire Protection.
“First time na mo miapil, nakaluy-an pud (It was our first time to join and we won),” Sendrijas said. “Nadala sa practice, adrenaline. Di man sud ta musugot nga di ta mag-practice. One month sad mi nangandam para ani, taga 9 a.m. to 12 noon matag adlaw. Sabado ug Dominggo ra mi wala gapraktis (I could attribute that to our practice and adrenaline. We wouldn’t take it lightly so we had to practice. We prepared for this for one month, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon everyday. We don’t practice on Saturdays and Sundays).”
He said the competition was like a simulation of what fire personnel usually do in responding to fire incidents, and participants with the shortest time to accomplish the tasks were declared winners. During the relay team, each member had to do a specific task while in the Strongest Man event, each competitor had to complete all five tasks by himself.
The annual Fire Olympics, organized in celebration of Fire Prevention Month every March, also featured the barangay and industrial categories.
This year’s theme, “Sa Pag-Iwas sa Sunog, Hindi ka Nag-iisa,” aims to intensify fire safety education in every household, stakeholder, and community. CIO
