Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Quezon City District 6 Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar on Wednesday led the handover of 56 fire extinguishers to Culiat High School, marking the start of a nationwide effort to bolster fire safety in schools.

The distribution, which included officials from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), is the first step in fulfilling President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen fire safety measures in educational institutions.

This comes following a fire that razed San Francisco High School, one of Quezon City’s oldest public schools, just a day before the school year began. The President had pledged immediate, proactive steps to ensure the safety of students and communities during emergencies.

“This is a small but necessary gesture from the DILG,” Remulla said. “This is what we do every day. You must be protected from any kind of emergency.”

With the donation, Culiat High School, which serves approximately 2,000 students, now boasts a 1:1 fire extinguisher to classroom ratio, setting a standard for preparedness.

“Today, we are very happy because that promise is fulfilled,” said Quezon City School Division Superintendent Carleen S. Sedilla, who formally received the equipment. “We are very thankful to Secretary Remulla, to Mayor Joy Belmonte, and Cong. Marivic Co-Pilar for this initiative in helping create a safe space in our schools and our communities.”

From 1 January to 1 July 2025, a total of 8,195 fire incidents have been recorded nationwide. Of these, 191 occurred in Quezon City, with 15 involving educational facilities.

As part of the event, BFP personnel conducted a live demonstration of proper fire extinguisher use, employing the PASS method: Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep. Culiat High School master teacher Myrna Piedad and ninth-grade student Isabella Heart Cabra participated in the demo, enhancing fire response awareness among both teachers and students.

Remulla also announced that with the full activation of the national 911 emergency hotline this month, the public can expect a three-minute emergency response time nationwide.

“This is our job, to make you feel safe and secure,” Remulla said. “In times of need, the government is there for you.”