The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) commended the Congress on Monday, August 9 for the approval of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Bill, saying it will significantly improve the country’s fire prevention and emergency medical and rescue services.
The same bill, which will now be forwarded to President Duterte for signing, also allows firemen to carry guns.
But DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said there is more from the BFP Modernization Bill than the provision allowing firemen to carry firearms.
“There are now more reasons to celebrate as this will allow the bureau to fully modernize its fire-fighting tools and lifesaving-equipment and professionalize the fire personnel and fire services,” said Año.
With Congress' approval, Año said that the BFP Modernization Bill will now be transmitted to Malacañang for President Duterte’s signature.
“I am confident that this will breeze through Malacañang since the President has always pushed for the modernization of the fire bureau in order to enhance the BFP’s fire fighting capability,” he added.
The Senate approved the reconciled version of Senate Bill (SB) 1832 and House Bill (HB) 7406 with 14 ayes, four nays, and two abstentions, including the provision authorizing a BFP special unit in each city and municipality to carry firearms.
“Not all BFP personnel will be authorized to carry firearms but only around 2,000 personnel who will be assigned under the proposed BFP Security and Protection Unit (SPU) in each city and municipality. We will see to it that this provision will not be abused,” said Año.
Año also directed BFP Chief Jose S. Embang Jr. to prepare the revised organizational structure and staffing and needed documents for the additional procurement of fire trucks, modern fire-fighting tools and rescue and life-saving equipment “as early as now.’’
Among the proposed modern firefighting equipment are fire boats for low-lying and coastal areas, helicopters for emergencies that cannot be reached by land vehicles; rescue and hazard material trucks, and other emergency vehicles and equipment.
The said procurement will be done together with the mandated training and hiring of additional BFP personnel and construction of more fire stations nationwide.
At present, the BFP has 30,811 personnel which is only 55.74 percent of the country’s requirement of 55,270 fire officers that will serve 110.54-million projected population in 2021.
“The ideal firefighter to population ratio is 1:2,000 and 1 fire truck needs 14 fire officers in order for it be fully ready at all times in case of fire and rescue natural disasters or calamities, COVID-19 responses, and even Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) threats,’’ the DILG said.
Currently the BFP has 3,046 out of the needed 3,947 fire trucks with 1,194 of these being over 20 years old as only 1,852 (46.92 percent) of the fire trucks in the country are well-conditioned for use anytime. (Chito A. Chavez)