NEWS RELEASE || 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐄𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝟑𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐅𝐏 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

BUTUAN CITY, July 09, 2025—𝗖𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗕𝗙𝗣) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

This crucial collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony held on July 8, 2025, at the R-NEAP Gold Hall, DepEd Regional Office, Butuan City. Officer-in-Charge FSSUPT Jerome T. Reano and DepEd Caraga Regional Director Maria Ines C. Asuncion were both present, underscoring their respective agencies' commitment to this vital initiative. This partnership builds on the BFP Caraga Memorandum dated March 19, 2025, mandating the implementation of Standardized Public Fire Safety Education (SPFE) Manuals.

Ahead of the official signing, FSSUPT Reano paid a courtesy visit to Director Asuncion at her office, reaffirming both agencies' commitment to inter-agency collaboration in promoting fire safety in schools.

During the MOA signing ceremony, ESSD Chief Edmund D. Mendoza welcomed the attendees, explicitly noting the significance of the event during the celebration of the 30th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Education Caraga Region. He expressed appreciation and gratitude for the continued support of Functional Division chiefs, BFP representatives, and other stakeholders.

Director Asuncion highlighted the importance of the MOA with BFP in view of a past drowning incident at a private school that underscored the urgent need for comprehensive safety education. She shared that some schools have already taken proactive steps by forming "Little Fire Marshal" clubs and proposed conducting fire safety activities after academic hours. She emphasized the value of educating learners early on safety measures, believing it can positively influence families and communities. She reaffirmed DepEd Caraga's commitment to protecting students and personnel through strategic partnerships like this one.

Dubbed "Bombero sa Paaralan," this partnership seeks to institutionalize fire safety education within the school system. Its core objective is to equip learners, teachers, and other school personnel with essential life-saving knowledge and skills, fostering a culture of safety and resilience within the school and the broader community.

Under the MOA, BFP Caraga will be responsible for conducting fire safety training in schools, providing educational materials, monitoring the program's effectiveness, and coordinating schedules to minimize class disruptions. In turn, DepEd Caraga will facilitate these sessions, identify participating schools, encourage involvement, and provide necessary logistical support.

Both parties also agreed to adopt the Standard Public Fire Education (SPFE) Manuals Volumes 1 & 2 as the official reference modules for implementation across all endorsed schools.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

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