Modernizing firefighting capabilities for 21st-century challenges
The government will continue to allocate budget to the BFP for the BFP modernization program
Daily TribuneThe government will continue to allocate budget to the BFP for the BFP modernization program
The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to man-made fire disasters in highly urban areas. The risk of catastrophic fires is growing at alarming rates, with disproportionate impacts on low-income and rural communities.
The Bureau of Fire Protection has taken significant steps to prioritize community resilience to catastrophic fires within a broader effort to prepare Filipinos for these types of disasters' present and future impacts.
BFP Chief Director Louie Puracan said the modernization initiative undertaken by the government had provided firefighters the capability and strength to keep up with the modern challenges.
According to Puracan, the modernization program of the BFP allowed them to meet the modern challenges of the time, including the increase of the BFP's fire truck, ambulance, and equipment of the bureau of fire.
Puracan said that in 2024, the government will continue to allocate budget to the BFP for the BFP modernization program.
The BFP also informed that as part of the government's modernization program, Congress will allocate an additional P3 Billion for the modernization of the BFP.
Earlier, the Bureau of Fire Protection received an unmodified opinion from the Commission on Audit for the first time in the fiscal year of 2022, and it got a perfect score of 20.
Based on the CoA report, the BFP received a 93 percent score with an equivalent excellent score from the first Financial Performance Rating report.
It will be recalled that the CoA favored the Bureau of Fire Protection action and that the BFP should have a modernization program to keep up with the modern era.
In this regard, as part of the government's modernization program in BFP, 54 new fire trucks were distributed to local fire stations in BFP.
DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said the newly purchased fire truck has a 1,000-gallon capacity. Firetrucks are distributed to fire stations that need more firefighting capabilities.
"The distribution of these modern and innovative fire trucks proves President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. prioritizes. And the DILG the safety of our communities and people," he said.