Manila Bulletin, October 30, 2006
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno has called on local chief executives nationwide to help improve the firefighting capabilities of their localities as he disclosed that only 780 or just about half of the country’s 1,560 towns have functioning fire stations.
At the same time, Puno lauded Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat for donating two firetrucks and two vehicles to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Zamboanga City.
In simple ceremonies in Zamboanga City, Lobregat turned over, on behalf of the city government, one 600-gallon capacity and one 500-gallon capacity firetrucks to the BFP.
The Zamboanga City government also donated 60 firehoses worth R537,000 and a multicab service vehicle to aid BFP personnel in conducting fire inspections.
An ambulance procured through a donation from the private sector was also turned over by Lobregat to the fire bureau.
Lobregat was accompanied at the turnover rites by Zamboanga City Rep. Erico Basilio Fabian.
"Realizing the budgetary constraints facing our fire protection bureau, Mayor Lobregat took it upon himself to give to, instead of receive from, the BFP," Puno said. "I hope that Mayor Lobregat’s commendable action would not be the last one we would see among our local officials who, I am sure, are similarly working on innovative measures to beef up the firefighting capabilities of their respective towns and cities," he added.
Puno disclosed that since 2001, the DILG has not received any capital outlay for the acquisition of new firetrucks even though only 780 or just about half of the country’s 1,560 towns have functioning fire stations.
The DILG chief said he would continue to pursue his proposal for his former colleagues in the House of Representatives to include the acquisition of firetrucks and other firefighting equipment in their "menu" of projects for possible funding under their Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) outlays to help upgrade and modernize the country’s antiquated fire protection system.
A former member of the House representing the first district of Antipolo City, Puno said that congressmen can easily tap into their CDFs to help address the acute shortage of firetrucks and fire protection gear for BFP personnel, who place their lives in constant danger every time they put out fires to save lives and property.
Aside from this proposal, the DILG also signed a memorandum of agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines to help local government units (LGUs) acquire firetrucks, emergency medical services and ambulances, and other firefighting equipment and facilities through a loan facility launched by the LBP specifically for this program.
Aside from the acute shortage of firetrucks, official data from the BFP showed that of the 11,689 firefighters assigned to active units, only 3,742 are equipped with fire suits, leaving 7,947 either unprotected or forced to share fire-retardant gear with others.
In the highly urbanized center of Metro Manila, only 360 fire suits are available for its 2,229 firefighters. Worse, only 3,214 fire boots are available for use by more than 11,000 firefighters.
The men and women of the BFP also have to make do with 4,731 fire helmets and 1,324 pairs of fire gloves, and, unlike their counterparts from other countries, they do not get to wear fire-retardant pants when they risk their lives in putting out fires to save others.
