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Nestlé Emergency Special Teams (NEST) from different worksites showed off their skills in fire-fighting and handling emergency situations during the 5th Annual Nestlé Fire-Fighting Festival held on March 3 at Cabuyao Factory grounds.
The festival started with a parade of teams, joined by their respective muses, amidst lively music played by a Cabuyao community band. Regional Director of RHQ4-A Senior Superintendent Ariel Barayuga opened the fire-fighting festival while Cabuyao Factory Engineer Alfredo Ocampo declared the competition officially open.
Five teams representing Cabuyao, Lipa, Cagayan de Oro, Nestlé Center, and Supply Chain Management (SCM) competed in three categories – First Aid, Quiz Bee Challenge, and Fire Extinguisher Event.
Conducted by the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) – Laguna Chapter, the First Aid Event aimed to execute the given scenario with the least elapsed time and with the least number of errors (as judged by PNRC representatives). The Quiz Bee Challenge, on the other hand, tested the teams’ knowledge and preparedness during emergency situations. The final category, the Fire Extinguisher Event, challenged the teams to hurdle an obstacle course and extinguish a type B fire in the shortest time possible, with minimum or no error, using only two dry chemical ABC fire extinguishers. Judges to this category include representatives from Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) - Region IV.
The Cabuyao team was declared overall champion after placing 1st in each of the three categories. The SCM team bagged the second place in the Quiz Bee Challenge and the Fire Extinguisher Event, while the Nestlé Center team was second best in the First Aid Event. Winning 3rd place was the Lipa team for First Aid and Fire Extinguisher events, and Nestle Center for the Quiz Bee Challenge. Winning the On-the-Spot Cheering Rally Competition, a side event, was Nestle Center.
One of the highlights of the festival was the demonstration by BFP-Region IV Fire Officer Rommel Sanglay who showed the appreciative audience various techniques on putting out fire caused by a leaking LPG tank, cleaning up chemical spills, and using BFP’s new special equipment during emergency situations.
Cabuyao NEST also took the opportunity to present the Commendation Award to NEST member Edwin Guimbaolibot, a Cabuyao Infant Nutrition filling line operator, for his efforts in putting out the fire along the South Luzon Express Way (SLEX) in San Pedro, Laguna last February 19, 2007. Cabuyao Factory Manager Riepko Krijthe and Corporate Safety, Health and Environment Head Jess Reyes gave the award to Edwin.
The Annual Nestle Fire Fighting Festival, according to Jess, is not just a way to remind employees about the importance of fire prevention and control, highlighted usually during the Fire Prevention Month which is March. “We do this activity to recognize the contributions of our NEST members, provide a venue to learn new concepts and techniques on fire prevention and control, and renew our commitment to helping out our respective sites in times of emergencies,” Jess said.
Also providing support during the Fire-Fighting Festival were Lipa HR Head Froy Dimaculangan, Cabuyao HR Head Rey Maniego, Corporate Communications Specialist Lester Tejada, and Safety Officers Edwin Ramilo, Gilbert Javier, Abel Gonzales, Vic Porpio, Rodel Gandingco and Romeo Clerigo. |
Nestlé Philippines, Inc. | Nestlé.com 
