French firefighters donate drones, train Guiuan responders
TACLOBAN CITY — A French emergency response team has donated two tactical drones and conducted firefighting and emergency response training for responders in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, to strengthen the municipality’s preparedness for forest fires and other disasters.
The Pompiers de l’Urgence Internationale (PUI), or International Emergency Firefighters, led by its founder and president, Philippe Besson, arrived in Guiuan on Friday, Oct. 30, to turn over the equipment and share their expertise with members of the Community Fire Auxiliary Groups and other local emergency personnel.
The training activities were conducted in coordination with the municipal government, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Bureau of Fire Protection-Guiuan Fire Station.
The donated drones are expected to help local responders conduct aerial surveillance, monitor fire-affected areas, identify potential hazards, and assess risks during emergency operations.
Aside from the equipment turnover, the French team also conducted hands-on training in forest firefighting and drone operations, particularly for responders on Homonhon Island, where authorities seek to improve preparedness for forest fires and other emergencies.
The mission also includes assessing the existing capabilities of local emergency responders, identifying gaps in disaster preparedness, and evaluating potential risks from forest fires, earthquakes, and typhoons.
The team is also providing training in crisis management and emergency operations to improve the safety and effectiveness of frontline responders amid increasing climate-related hazards.
READ: France’s devastating fires now ‘under control’ – PM
READ: Scientists: Climate change made Spain, France fires more likely
Councilor Mary Charmaine Villar, Liga ng mga Barangay president, who represented Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan, expressed appreciation for the French team’s assistance and technical support.
The PUI delegation included French firefighters Willy Guerin, Remy Desbois, and Didier Babin.
The partnership is intended to strengthen Guiuan’s disaster response capabilities, particularly in island communities where access and emergency response operations can be challenging.
Early this year, forest fires occurred on the historic island of Homonhon due to intense heat. /mcm
