A product of the prestigious Philippine National police Academy (PNPA), Inspector Manases Bautista has assumed as new city fire chief posing with a track record in the field of fire protection. Pursuant to Bureau Order 2007-153 dated November 15, 2007 issued by the regional director, he was relieved from Ubay Fire Station to assume as acting city fire marshal of Tagbilaran. After turning over his remaining tasks in Ubay, Bautista assumed office in Tagbilaran City on December 3 and made a courtesy call to Mayor Dan Lim the following day. Bautista hails from barangay Lapacan Norte in Buenavista and a graduate of PNPA class 2002 with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Public Safety. Upon graduation, he prefers the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) as his field of profession.

To guarantee his credibility, he got three counts of civil service eligibility which include CS fire officer, CS professional and CS police officer, and passed the examination for police inspectors conducted by the Napolcom for purposes of promotion. As an officer, he has attended and participated a number of trainings, schoolings and seminars such as the PNP cadetship training; water safety seminar; barangay tanod skills training and enhancement seminar; assessment and collection of fire code fees, taxes and Fines; fire arson investigation seminar; public safety officers basic course; Jungle Environmental Survival Training (JEST); and computer literacy workshop.

Bautista had been assigned to different fire offices and held key positions as administrative officer of the Special Rescue Unit in Region 7, deputy provincial fire marshal of Bohol in 2003, and as municipal fire marshal of Ubay. As fireman and fire officer, he had also intensified information and education campaign on fire safety, disaster preparedness and management, first-aid and rescue operation seminars involving all the concerned LGUs, NOGs, Gos, and POs during his past assignments which proved effective in adhering to fire safety development. Now, as the acting fire marshal of Tagbilaran City Fire Station, he considers a great deal of improving the system to provide improved services to the community by establishing linkages to the LGU and all concerned agencies as a way of consolidated approach in accomplishing the mandated programs for the progress and development of the city fire service. With the trust and confidence of his subordinates, Bautista vowed that the mission and vision of the bureau will surely go along way, even beyond expectation. And, his way of leadership anchors on professionalism and humble way of leading his men which won the hearts of his subordinates who cast their cooperation and respect. (FO2 Raul Bustalino/OPFM-Bohol PIO)