TERCEIRA | President of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service highlighted importance of World Civil Defence Day

The President of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA) stressed on Wednesday the importance of World Civil Defence Day as a way of “honouring civil protection agents and highlighting the role of the SRPCBA in the Region.”

“The SRPCBA is prepared and is an essential part of society. It is essential that people know they can count on the Civil Protection system and that, together, we will know how to build a more supportive, more protected and safer future,” stressed Rui Andrade.

The President of SRPCBA spoke to journalists in Angra do Heroísmo in the context of World Civil Defence Day. On the occasion, he stated that this date is also an opportunity to reinforce the importance of safety and prevention in the Region, through the promotion of “awareness and prevention campaigns, especially for those who are our future: the children.”

On the occasion, Rui Andrade also mentioned that the challenges of the SRPCBA are the “geographical discontinuity” of the archipelago, which “requires more demanding planning and the existence of redundant resources,” and the need for Civil Protection “to be constantly updated in the context of training.”

In turn, Rui Andrade stated that there are plans to refurbish fire brigades, adding that “an investment was made last year for the purchase of four emergency vehicles and, this year, we intend to acquire four rescue vehicles.”

“We also intend to improve our land transport of urgent patients, approve important documents, such as the funding model, so that the Humanitarian Associations of Voluntary Firefighters are financially and operationally stabilised,” he said.

This year, the SRPCBA marked the World Civil Defence Day at the Terceira Island Multi-Sectoral Park in Angra do Heroísmo. The event brought together about 20 civil protection agents and entities that, throughout the day, displayed their resources and promoted awareness and information actions.

In addition to the population in general, the initiative welcomed more than 1000 children and young people from daycare centres, kindergartens, Free Time Occupation Centres, basic education schools and secondary schools of Terceira Island.

GRA/RÁDIOILHÉU