Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to fill a critical gap in the country’s fire safety infrastructure by ensuring that every local government unit (LGU) has a functioning fire station and at least one fire truck.

“This is a basic government service. Let’s prioritize this so we can finally complete the coverage,” Gatchalian said in a statement on Saturday. 

According to BFP data, 65 LGUs across the country still lack their own fire stations, with 47 of these located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

During a Senate budget hearing for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and its attached agencies, BFP Chief Jesus Fernandez told lawmakers that the main challenge is the lack of land provided by LGUs, which is a necessary requirement before the agency can fund and begin construction of a fire station.

Gatchalian emphasized that the presence of a fire station and a fire truck is vital not just for firefighting, but also for disaster response, such as post-flood cleanups.

He likewise urged the BFP to adopt a more proactive approach in lobbying LGUs to donate land for fire station construction. 

“The BFP should adopt a more aggressive approach in lobbying for land donation by LGUs still without a fire station,” he added.

Gatchalian’s call comes as part of broader efforts to improve disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities across the country, particularly in remote and underserved communities.