The Famalicão Civil Defence Campus was inaugurated today in Bairro by the Minister of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro, and by the Mayor, Mário Passos, to serve the country, particularly the Northern region, in terms of disaster prevention and rescue of people and property.
Mário Passos spoke of a "historic day for Famalicão, but also for Portugal". "Civil Defence is essential to the country. There can be no social harmony without the protection of citizens and their property. This is a right that people have, but it is also a condition of national cohesion and, therefore, what we are doing here today makes me immensely proud and happy," he added.
The new Famalicão Civil Defence Campus includes a Municipal Civil Protection Centre, a Municipal Heliport and a National Civil Defence Logistical Support Base. It is located in the parish of Bairro, enjoying a privileged location for operations throughout the region.
In terms of infrastructures, the Civil Defence Centre has the capacity to provide accommodation for around one hundred operatives to reinforce their resources. With an area of approximately 30 thousand m2, it has facilities such as a support building, a base for parking heavy vehicles, a heliport, a football field, a tennis court, changing rooms and a canteen.
The signing of the protocol with the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Defence and the Humanitarian Association of Riba de Ave Voluntary Firefighters for the use and operation of the space marked this morning’s ceremony.
Regarding the "very relevant investment" made by the famalicense municipality in the new Campus, the Minister of Internal Administration said, "it translates the local authority's strategic option in one of the most important areas for the life of any community - the safety of people and property". José Luís Carneiro pointed out Security and Defence as the first objective of any State, thanking, on behalf of the Government, the option made by the Famalicão City Hall.