Fire Service awaits Apec Secretariat’s response on budget submission

National

By SHARLYNE ERI
The PNG Fire Service is still awaiting a response from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Secretariat regarding a budget submitted in 2015, acting chief fire officer Bill Roo says.
Roo said funding from the secretariat would enable the fire service to begin preparations for the summit next year.
He said in the meantime, the fire service was liaising with other organisations for funding to start training for the summit.
“Right now, we are doing what we can with what we have to prepare for the Apec,” Roo said.
“We are doing training at the station and are mindful that we have to be prepared because anything can happen between now and the Apec.”
Roo said proposed training to be conducted in the Central Government Building and the Fincorp Building did not eventuate because approval from the building managers was yet to be received.
He said manpower was also an issue, so it was likely for the fire service to involve officers from outside provinces in Apec operations in Port Moresby.
“About 100 officers will be deployed in Apec operations.”
Meanwhile, Roo said fire hydrants were vital equipment that stood as a backup for fire trucks.