THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has distributed 86 ambulances to almost all provinces in the country with Regions 1, 5 and 7 getting seven and most number of units while the National Capital Region (NCR) surprisingly got nothing.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. led the ceremonial distribution Saturday afternoon at the BFP national headquarters in Agham Road, Quezon City attended by mayors and local government officials.

When asked why NCR was not included in the list of recipients, Abalos quickly replied; “mayaman na ang NCR, kailangan isabog naman sa iba na kailangan yun,. . . siguro naman para sa ano… lalo ngayong kapaskuhan, kung meron ka na , yung naman iba ang tulungan natin, may formula naman dyan,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the event.

These ambulances he added, will also boost the bureau’s emergency medical services where firefighters are mandated not only to respond on fire incidents but also to all forms of calamities and emergencies.

Composed of basic life support, these brand new units – a Nissan NV350 with a diesel-fed engine, is designed to provide care and avoidance of aggravation of the patient’s injury while being transported to medical facilities.

It also consists of a two-way radio communication device, mobilization devices, monitoring/and or defibrilator, ventilation airway equipment, chest compression device.

Other features include a chest compression device, dressing and bandages, infection control and variousEMS kits and supplies and obstetrical delivery set.

Manned by well-trained medical staff and nurses, these units also consist a negative system that is capable of eliminating at least three kinds of viruses for the safety and welfare of BFP personnel during operations.

Apart from Regions 1 and 5 with seven units, Region 2 got five and Region 3 had four.

Regions 4A and Region 4B both got five and Region 6 also has five.

Region 8 – six; Region 9 – six; Region 10 – four; Region 11 – five; Region 12 – four; BARMM – four; CAR – five and CARAGA Region- six.

Abalos said is part of the BFP’s modernization program where it also targets to distribute more firetrucks to complement and the goal of at least fire truck per fire station.

Just recently, the DILG chief also led the distribution of 35 firetrucks to different regions.

The BFP and the local government units are one in the mission in building a health and safer nation.