(MANILA BULLETIN)

Did you know that a total of 143 local government units (LGUs) in the country don't have fire stations? 

Congressmen learned about this during the House Committee on Appropriations' deliberation on the 2024 budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday, Aug 31. 

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is an attached agency of the DILG, which is headed by Secretary Benhur Abalos. 

BFP Chief Louie Puracan revealed that out of 1,634 cities and municipalities in the Philippines, only 1,477 have fire stations and fire trucks. This leaves a difference of 143. 

Surigao del Sur 1st district Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. said that under the proposed 2024 budget, some P550 million were earmarked for the construction of 55 fire stations. The amount did not include the acquisition of fire trucks for the fire stations. 

Obviously, 55 new fire stations can't cover for 143 cities and municipalities. “How do you allocate the 55 to the remaining 143 [LGUs]?" Momo asked Puracan. 

“The basis of the prioritization, your honor, on the construction of fire station[s] is through the request of LGU. Some LGUs, your honor, have not submitted the request because of the non-existence of land donations coming from the LGU,” said the fire bureau chief. 

As for cities and municipalities that did have their own fire stations, their district representatives in the House peppered the BFP with requests for more fire trucks during the budget hearing.