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Micronesian leaders support use of PRATC
A resolution for sister islands in Micronesia to support the use of the Pacific Region ARFF Training Center on Saipan was signed and memorandum of agreements are expected to follow suit.
According to Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director MaryAnn Lizama, the leaders of Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, Guam, and the CNMI all supported the PRATC resolution which aims to establish a partnership with the islands.
“It basically gives that guarantee that any other training that deals with firefighting, they come here. That will basically solidify the partnership,” Lizama said, who presented the resolution as well as PRATC’s efforts and plans at the 21st Micronesian Chief Executive Summit last month.
The resolution states that the participants at the summit, including Palau President Tommy Remengesau, FSM President Peter Christian, RMI President Dr. Hilda Heine, together with governors and/or lieutenant governors of CNMI, Guam, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae, “fully support and recommend participation in the firefighter training program as delineated the PRATC Memorandum of Agreement.
Copies of the resolution and MOA will be forwarded to fire departments and corresponding agencies, the resolution added.
Lizama said the MOA will engage the Micronesian airport sponsors in committing to and investigating in, not only the ARFF personnel, but other airport personnel as well.
In the presentation, Lizama discussed CPA’s plans to expand the curriculum not only covering the airport firefighters but also airport police, tenant employees, ground handlers, and fuelers that its board has supported through their own resolution back in June 2014.
“I also discussed that there will be a subsequent memorandum of agreement that will bring in the partnership further, and spread it further out to the other important employees and a subsequent resolution so that we have that commitment that in any and all training, this will be the hub, this will be the training hub.” Lizama said.
Currently, PRACT has courses on Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Basic Firefighting and Rescue, and Hazardous Material, and Weapons of Mass Destruction.
CPA opened PRATC in 2005 to provide “unparalleled” emergency response and fire prevention. Its ARFF Academy has a graduate data totaling to 213 from the first to the eighth ARFF Academy cycles from 2005 to 2016 with the CNMI having the largest number of 50, followed by Palau with 25, and Yap with 17 graduates.
