Story by: Cheilo Padilla
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, May 20, 2026. Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), through its RESCUE Program, continues to strengthen disaster resilience at the community level by equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to respond to emergencies.
A Fire Safety Training and Emergency Preparedness activity was conducted at the Puerto Princesa Shell Terminal, bringing together 28 Out-of-School Youth (OSY) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members from Barangay Bagong Silang, along with eight Shell Terminal General Contractor (GenCon) personnel. The training was facilitated by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Puerto Princesa City Fire Station through a combination of classroom discussions and hands-on exercises.
Building Practical Skills That Save Lives
Participants gained firsthand experience in responding to fire emergencies through practical activities, including the proper use of fire extinguishers and hose relay operations. These exercises helped reinforce critical firefighting techniques while building participants’ confidence in handling emergency situations.
Learning assessments conducted before and after the training showed a marked improvement in participants’ understanding of fire safety, emergency preparedness, and basic firefighting procedures, with all attendees successfully passing the post-training assessment.
For many participants, the experience inspired a greater sense of responsibility to serve their community.
Salamat po sa PSFI, Shell, at sa BFP sa karagdagang kaalaman para sa aming mga kabataan. Isang malaking experience ito para sa amin at lalo na naming nalaman kung paano kami makakatulong sa aming barangay.
Ganito pala ang pakiramdam kapag may dagdag na kaalaman tungkol sa fire safety. Ipinagmamalaki ko na naranasan namin ang ganitong training para sa aming barangay.
Addressing a Critical Community Need
The training responds to a pressing need in Barangay Bagong Silang, which has been identified by the Bureau of Fire Protection as a fire-prone or “red-coded” community. The prevalence of light, highly combustible housing materials and the close proximity of homes increase the risk of fires spreading rapidly.
Recent fire incidents further underscore the importance of preparedness. A major fire in 2023, followed by another on February 14, 2026, displaced approximately 57 families, affecting around 208 individuals. These experiences highlight the need for continuous community education and disaster preparedness initiatives.
Empowering Youth as Community Responders
Beyond developing technical skills, the training encouraged young participants to see themselves as active contributors to community safety and disaster risk reduction.
One participant shared how the experience changed his perspective.
Matutuwa po ang mga magulang ko. May natutunan ako kung paano magligtas at makakatulong sa panahon ng sunog.
Through the RESCUE Program, PSFI empowers youth leaders and community members to become partners in building safer neighborhoods by promoting preparedness, prevention, and quick response during emergencies.
Building Safer and More Resilient Communities
