Funding
To see to it that the firefighting unit operate without constant solicitation from the business sector, a trust fund was set up by the Board of Trustees through various fund raising schemes and individual donations. Income generated by said trust fund is used to cover day to day expenses of the brigade. Budget deficit if any, are usually covered by donations by member volunteers or friends of the volunteers. Major expenditures are financed from withdrawals from the trust fund itself and are limited to priority projects in order to avoid early depletion of the fund.
Vehicles
The DVFB own the following equipments used for public service:
- Tanker truck (2)
- Pumper (3)
- Ambulance
All the trucks are reconditioned vehicles purchased or donated to the DVFB second hand and are now in good running condition.
The DVFB is also augmented by the following Volunteer Fire Brigades:
- React Tagum Volunteer Fire Brigade
- Toril Volunteer Fire Brigade Foundation, Inc
- Digos Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade
- MINTRADE Corporation
- Forever Richsons Trading
Membership
The DVFB has over 80 members who are on call 24 hours a day in case of emergency. Except for (1) driver and (5) residents who man the radio and maintain the station and equipments all the rest offer their services for free. Willingness and the ability to serve as well as moral character are the only qualifications necessary in order for an individual to be considered as a possible member. In effect the DVFB membership is made up of individuals that include ordinary workers, students, professionals and business establishment owners and managers.
History
1981 – 1982
Davao Volunteer Fire Brigade (DVFB) has contributed a long list of courageous men and women who have continuously assisting the government in its effort to save live and property, from the destruction of fires and other calamity in Davao City.
These are the Chinese and Filipino businessmen who answered the call of duty and service to fellowmen with their generosity and courage to be volunteer firefighters.
DVFB started with one fire truck but the strong manpower built up for the brigade represent sincerity and efficiency in its capacity as a non government fire fighting organization. These volunteer firefighters are on call 24 hours a day for community service. Whether it is a regular firefighting operation, rescue during disaster, or calamities or simple assistance for citizen by transporting their sick to and from medical units.
1982 – 1989
After going to the birth pains the brigade started growing in membership volunteer’s fire fighting equipments and facilities, it started with the delivery truck which was converted to a fire truck. Unit 1 was named Calypso in honor of the late Henry Tek Sing Lim, who was the prime mover of DVFB during his lifetime.
DVFB was able to construct a brigade base at Monteverde Street. Equipped with radio facilities, acquired pumper truck unit 4, 2 tankers unit 2 and 5, and an ambulance rescue is likewise made possible through the assistance of kind hearted members of the community who believed in the mission and objective DVFB and were willing to ontribute for the furtherance of its purpose which is to serve the Davao community in times of fire, disaster r or calamity.
1989 – Present
This period mark the expansion of DVFB to include the bloodletting activity and traffic management assistance during special events. The beginning of the second decade of DVFB marks the changing of the guards in the operation unit. Mr. Severino Herrera, Jr. was as new station commander assisted by his deputy Mr. Jose Uy, Ms. Evelyn Ang, Ms. Linda Tesoro, Mr. Magno Cam, by then fire marshal and President Mr. Henry Tek Sing Lim.
Services then is extended to other area in region XI by assisting in the establishment of other independent volunteer brigades, the first were Toril Volunteer Firefighter Foundation (TORVO),second Tagum (REACT) Volunteer Fire Brigade, and the Third is the Cotabato Fire Brigade, and finally the Digos Volunteer Fire Brigade with the total of 5 volunteer brigade extending all over region XI,DVFB made stronger with those unit standing by ready with its back up call, its unit maybe dependent from its other but one in color, training, methodology, and system in the belief that service to the community is each organization primary purpose for it is existence.
In the year 2002, DVFB celebrated its 20th year of service in formally welcome our new president Mr. William Tan with his officer and board of directors as the management team of the brigade. Most of who have been with the brigade since its inception. Truly a power house team of loyal and service oriented individuals united in the effort to make Davao a safe haven for everyone.
The DVFB board of directors in its combine efforts with the brigade€™s fire fighting units headed by Mr. Severino Herrera, JR. made years from 2002 to present another golden period of growth.
Year 2003, substation CALYPSO located at NCCC mall Maa was established through the assistance of the family of the late DVFB President and Fire Marshal Mr. Henry Tek Sing Lim, the station is serving the Matina and Ulas Area which was difficult to accesses for emergency calls during peak traffic hours, Unit 1 (Calypso) and Unit 4 were assigned as the emergency vehicles.
Year 2004, members of the DVFB and friends pull their resources to donate unit 6, a pumper truck to the brigade. Unit 6 parks at the DVFB fire station to backup the tankers Unit 5 and Unit 2.
Year 2005, Dir. Gilbert Go volunteered to assist the brigade by creating an independent fully equipped fire fighting team affiliated to DVFB, to service the Lanang and Sasa area. Hence, we have unit 7 and the MINTRADE Volunteers. Today the active MINTRADE Team has not only responded to fire calls in their area but also as far as Toril, truly most commendable group worthy to be called volunteers.
Year 2006, the year when the DVFB was most prolific it ushered more cooperative effort from the concerned citizens. Mr. Adan Co of Forever Rich Sons located at Bunawan, form own its fire fighting team also affiliated to our brigade. We now have Unit 8 tanker with its own firefighting ready crew for Bunawan and Lasang area.
August 2006, we saw the arrival of 3 more fire trucks from Taiwan, purchased through the federation of Chinese Volunteers. The project was facilitated by our team volunteers headed by Convoy 10, Mr. James Lao for Mayor Rey Uy of Tagum City; NCCC Calypso base at NCCC Mall; Volunteers and friends from DVFB base.
Surely green is the color of the year for the DVFB as it sailed to the growth foster through the confidence the many generous individuals in its capabilities.
The Davao Volunteer Fire Brigade, INC is the organization that bands all its members to a common goal and that is to serve God and our fellowmen. That is our commitment and legacy to the next generation.
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