The issue at hand is the management of the Firefighter Social Protection Fund, which, according to a statement from APBV (Portuguese Volunteer Firefighters Association), requires “an increase in funding, accompanied by more optimized and transparent management.”
The organization representing volunteer firefighters also emphasized the need for “a complete and unequivocal clarification of the situation” by the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Paulo Simões Ribeiro.
The request for a hearing came after what APBV described as a “regrettable exchange of accusations on social media” between the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) and the Portuguese Firefighters League (LBP), which represents the humanitarian associations that oversee volunteer fire departments.
APBV also considered that “someone is lying” between ANEPC – which oversees the sector and claims to transfer money to pay for university tuition reimbursements and daycare fees for firefighters’ children – and LBP, which manages the fund and accuses Civil Protection of not transferring sufficient funds.
In a publication on Wednesday on its website and social media, ANEPC stated that it has already transferred 14 lists this year for expense reimbursements due to 1,369 firefighters and their descendants, under the Firefighter Social Protection Fund, adding that it “unfailingly transfers, every month, (…) the amount stipulated by law.”
LBP reacted today on social media and criticized Civil Protection for “shirking responsibility,” pointing out the “insufficiency of funds” transferred to the fund and regretting that this issue is being discussed during the Special Rural Fire Fighting Device (DECIR).
“The argument of mere legal provisions does not absolve it of enormous responsibilities in a process that has been dragging on for years and which worsened when the same amounts were maintained and benefits for firefighters in daycare and tuition were expanded, rightly so, but without the corresponding reinforcement,” LBP stated.
