CoA flags 107 towns without fire stations

At least 107 of the country’s 1,493 municipalities have no operational fire stations, leaving residents and businesses vulnerable to fires and potentially delayed emergency response, the Commission on Audit (CoA) reported.

In its annual audit report, CoA said all 149 cities had functioning fire stations, but several municipalities remained without facilities within their jurisdictions.

Of the 107 municipalities, 19 had completed fire station buildings that had yet to become operational, while 24 had ongoing construction. The remaining 64 had neither fire station buildings nor their own fire trucks.

More than half of the 124 municipalities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao lacked dedicated fire stations, the report said.

CoA attributed the gaps partly to the lack of suitable sites provided by local government units for the construction of fire stations.

The audit also found shortages of essential firefighting equipment, including protective coats, trousers, boots, gloves, helmets and hoods. These deficiencies prevented some completed fire stations from becoming operational and exposed firefighters to safety risks.

Delayed response

Funding allocations also failed to cover most municipalities without active fire stations.

CoA found that P425.89 million was released in 2025 for fire station construction and other infrastructure projects, but only P9.98 million was allocated for one municipality, Lugus, Sulu.

The remaining municipalities without operational fire stations were excluded from the 2025 funding allocation, including those without buildings and fire trucks.

Instead, funds went to the construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of existing fire stations, as well as command centers and other infrastructure projects.

CoA warned that the absence of local fire stations could delay emergency response and increase risks to homes and businesses.

It called for a review of budget priorities and a more systematic approach to fire station planning and construction.