The officialdom of the Bureau of Fire Protection was in full force last Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, during the blessing and turnover of the four new firetrucks to the local government units of Virac, Bato and Baras.
The BFP regional director for Bicol, Chief Supt. Ricardo Perdigon, was joined by TGP Rep. Jose Teves Jr. and Catanduanes Cong. Eulogio Rodriguez in turning over the equipment to Mayors Samuel Laynes, Juan Rodulfo and Jose Paolo Teves III at the Plaza Rizal covered courts.
Governor Joseph Cua, who was supposed to be at the ceremony, failed to make it after the flight from Manila failed to land allegedly due to strong winds.
Also present were the chief of the R-5 Logistics Division, Supt. Jerickson Miraflor, Catanduanes Provincial Fire Marshal Supt. Glenn Rodrigueza, and Deputy Provincial Fire Marshal Dennis Tadoy, as well as the fire marshals of the different fire stations in the province.
Local officials who attended the event included PBM Robert Fernandez, Virac Vice Mayor Arlynn Arcilla, Councilors Virgilio Candelaria and Lemuel Surtida, and some department heads and employees.
The following day, Gen. Perdigon and his staff inspected the fire stations in the municipalities.
*****
Newly designated Catanduanes Police Provincial Director Col. Rayan Ador was supposed to preside at the turnover of command at the capital town’s police station this week.
However, he was reportedly engaged in a conference with the Command Group last Monday afternoon when P/Maj. Emsol Icawat assumed command of the Virac Police Station as officer-in-charge, replacing PMaj. Robert Kevin Caparroso who had been acting chief for the past two years or so.
Col. Ador’s duties was taken over by Deputy Provincial Director for Administration Lt. Col. Venerando Ramirez.
Mayor Samuel Laynes was represented by Vice Mayor Arlynn Arcilla during the turnover of command.
At the San Andres police station which Icawat used to head, the incoming OIC is P/Capt. Brenda Hate, who was previously in charge of the Women and Children’s Protection Desk at Camp Francisco Camacho.
. *****
Passengers of the Cebu Pacific Airlines flight from Manila to Virac were most likely in disbelief upon learning from the pilot that the jet plane would be returning to the metropolis last Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, after failing to land allegedly due to strong winds.
The day was sunny and, except for gusts of winds, there was nothing to prevent the Airbus A320 from safely setting down on the runway at about 8:15 AM.
According to personnel at PAGASA Virac Synoptic Station in San Isidro Village just a few hundred meters from the runway, the surface wind was about four knots (7.4 kph) at the time the plane was trying to land.
The weather agency, however, had issued Gale Warning #10 at 5 AM of the same day, forecasting wind force of 24-24 knots (45-63 kph) to affect or prevail over the northern and eastern coasts of Catanduanes, among other places in Luzon.
*****
Congratulations to Bishop Manolo delos Santos and the people of Calatagan Proper, Calatagan Tibang and Cavinitan on the Canonical Erection of Mary the Queen Parish and Solemn Installation of Rev. Fr. Joseph Clarian Clarianes as its first parish priest last Sunday, Jan. 14. 2024. It is now the diocese’s 50th parish, completing the bishop’s mission for on the golden year of the diocese.
*****
THE FIRST CHILD. Billy Joe frantically called the hospital. “My wife’s going into labor—you gotta send help!” he cried.
“Relax now,” the nurse said calmly. “Is this her first child?”
“No!” Billy Joe replied. “This is her husband!”