Around 110 municipalities across the country are still lacking full fire and protection coverage, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) disclosed on Saturday, May 25.
In a statement, the BFP said the 110 towns will be the focus of the P2.8 billion released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the purchase of fire trucks and other emergency vehicles.
The fund was acquired via the 80 percent of the BFP’s share in Fire Code Fees Collection will go to the procurement of 1000-gallon fire trucks, Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue Trucks (CSSRs), Type 1 Ambulances, and Rapid Response Motorcycles.
“As a country with a high disaster risk from typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions aside from the risk of destructive fire, these emergency vehicles are a necessity to address these pressing national safety concerns,’’ the BFP noted.
“Funding for these vehicles is a welcome development as we also work for the building of fire stations and the recruiting of new firefighters, alongside the enhancement of trainings to an internationally acceptable standard,’’ it added