Government wants to reinforce Civil Protection at the level of local authorities

The Minister of Internal Administration, Margarida Blasco, said this Saturday in Figueira da Foz that it is necessary to “strengthen the Civil Protection system” at municipal level.

“Local authorities play a fundamental role in managing public services in close proximity to citizens”, stated Margarida Blasco.

When intervening at the Figueira da Foz Casino, district of Coimbra, in the International Firefighter’s Day ceremonies, promoted by the League of Portuguese Firefighters (LBP), he considered it “crucial to reinforce the Civil Protection system within local authorities, improving operational coordination and considering its proximity and knowledge of local vulnerabilities”.

“Public Civil Protection policies require an integrated, collaborative and multidisciplinary approach, involving various government bodies, non-governmental organizations, the public and private sector and the community in general”, said the Minister of Internal Administration.

In his opinion, adaptation to climate change and continuous risk assessment “are increasingly important aspects in defining these policies”.

“It is important to highlight the Government’s strategy in pursuing public policies focused on prevention, preparation and response to serious accidents or catastrophes, aiming to guarantee everyone’s safety”, he added.

In terms of response, “it is essential to quickly mobilize resources capable of dealing with emergencies, with an emphasis on the multidisciplinary nature of teams and coordination between different decision-making levels, from local to national”, argued Margarida Blasco.

As part of the celebration of Firefighter’s Day, which included a musical program and the delivery of decorations, Gil Barreiros, president of the LBP congress table, António Nunes, president of the LBP executive board, Lídio Lopes, president of the Volunteer Firefighters of the Figueira da Foz, and Anabela Marques Tabaçó, councilor of the Figueira da Foz City Council.