VECO kicks off safety caravan, trains marshalls

CEBU, Philippines - The Visayan Electric Company kicked off yesterday its 10-day safety caravan in various elementary schools within its franchise area.

VECO spokesperson Theresa Sederiosa said that the caravan aims to teach grade five pupils about fire safety, first aid, personal safety and how electricity works.

VECO’s team conducted the first safety caravan at Naga City Central Elementary School’s grade five pupils.

“Grade five pupils among gi trained because by next year, mag grade six na ni sila and they will be the ones to act as safety marshalls sa mga lower grades. Kay kung kami ra ang mo trained sa tanang pupils, lisud kay gamay ra mi,” Sederiosa said.

Aside from Naga City Central Elementary School, VECO’s team will also conduct seminar among grade five pupils at Bulacao, Pardo Elementary School, Cebu City Central School, San Fernando Elementary School, Mandaue City Central School, Tayud Consolacion Elementary School, Cabangcalan Elementary School, Talisay City Elementary School, Mohon Elementary School and Lawaan Elementary School.

These ten schools, Sederiosa said, have the most number of entangled kites incidents in 2013.

Data show that a total of 199 incidents of entangled kites occurred in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay as well as in the towns of Consolacion and Liloan.

Sederiosa said that because of these incidents, power interruption occurred.

“Aside from this, possible nga ma kuryente ang mga bata nga magduwa og tabanog nga masangit sa among mga linya,” Sederiosa added.

Although VECO cannot ban kite flying especially now that the summer season is here, she urged parents to be vigilant of their children.

Sederiosa said that they will also conduct the same seminar in various barangays within their franchise area where kite flying incidents are high. —/GMR (FREEMAN)