This morning, the Regional Government, through the Regional Civil Protection Service (SRPC) IP-RAM, signed seven program contracts with the humanitarian associations of volunteer firefighters in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Since 2019, volunteer firefighters’ associations and the Portuguese Red Cross have received support from the Regional Government to the tune of 13 million euros, which is an average of 2 million 582 thousand euros per year.
Miguel Albuquerque said that the remuneration statute for professionals and volunteers in volunteer firefighters’ associations “will remain in full” once the budget is approved. “In other words, our commitment was to carry out the updates from 2024 until 2028 in accordance with what had been agreed.”
The purpose of the protocol signed this morning is to make a monthly financial contribution that will enable the operationalization and adoption of means
Miguel Albuquerque also highlighted the use of the air force, saying that it has proved to be “effective in fighting and preventing fires”.
“At the moment, the air force has an annual cost of more than one and a half million euros and we have taken this on board,” he said.