The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) talks about transfer of almost 3,4 million. League of Portuguese Firefighters (LPB) says the values are insufficient.
The League of Portuguese Firefighters (LPB) is in arrears with the payment of reimbursements for daycare and tuition fees of approximately 1400 volunteer firefighters and their descendants related to the school years of 2022/2023.
The situation is revealed by the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) in a circular issued last Thursday and sent to the presidents of the boards of Humanitarian Associations and the commanders of the Fire Departments.
According to the ANEPC document, the funds in question are covered by the Firefighters' Social Protection Fund (FPSB), which, among others, bear the costs of reimbursing daycare expenses and tuition fees for firefighters or their descendants, which are the largest financial slice transferred monthly to LPB.
Has learned the Lidador News (LN), only in a corporation in the district of Beja, there are a dozen and a half volunteer firefighters, than daycare and school fees 2022/2023, have to receive more than 10 thousand euros.
Na circular, to ANEPC reveals that since 2022 and to date, transferred to the League almost 3,4 million euros and which by the end of this year will reach a value greater than 3,7 million, and until August it transferred almost 665 thousand euros.
ANEPC maintains that “from 2023, difficulties in obtaining from the League the report on the physical and financial execution of the FPSB increased, payment of benefits in the context of education and other benefits provided for by law”. The institution ensures that “despite continuing to send lists to the LPB with the calculation of amounts to be reimbursed to firefighters, part are repeatedly returned by this entity, alleging lack of financial capacity to make payment” he concludes.
Urging LN to comment on the ANEPC circular, the president of the League maintained that “I don’t think we are in a position to say that we didn’t pay”, justifying that in the document, “the Authority provides a set of information which does not mention that of the values transferred, the League can only use 85% the same, to pay childcare expenses and tuition fees.”, justified.
António Nunes states that of the outstanding amounts of 2022/23 “were only received 8/12 one-thousandths of the total amount. Of the almost 665 thousand euros, have to discount 15% unusable”, concluded.
The president of the League states that “if the Fire Departments send lists with values to ANEPC, which checks and sends us, but as the money we receive is not enough, I return. It is the Authority that has to justify. They cannot send all the lists when there is no money”, summarized António Nunes.
At the end of the circular signed by the president of ANEPC, Duarte Costa, it is guaranteed that, As it is a situation of the utmost importance, “this Authority is making every effort, in conjunction with the Guardianship, for its resolution”, requesting that communication be transmitted to firefighters with outstanding payments. In a WhatsApp message sent to some firefighters, to which LN had access, António Nunes states that “we are surprised that the Secretary of State for Civil Protection continues with his hands in his pockets and does not intervene in favor of the firefighters”, justifying that a study will soon be presented with the evolution of the FPSB since 2015.
When asked about the outburst of a firefighter from a corporation in the south of the country about his management in the League, he said, “Come back Jaime Marta Soares, you are forgiven”, António Nunes responded that “not even in North Korea is there unanimity” he concluded.
1.400
According to ANEPC, next to 1.400 firefighters and their descendants have outstanding 50% of the amounts transferred by you transferred to LBP and which it did not settle.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
