Palace approval of BFP Modernization Bill seen
THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) welcomed the recent approval by Congress of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Bill, one of the priority legislative measures of the President, as this “will significantly improve the country’s fire prevention and emergency medical and rescue services through the acquisition of modern facilities and capacity enhancement of fire personnel.”
“We thank the Senate and House leadership for ratifying the bicameral conference report on the BFP Modernization Bill. Our special thanks also to Senator Bong Go who is the principal author of the bill and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa for sponsoring and defending the measure in the Senate,” said DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año.
Año said the ratification of the measure is well-timed as the BFP is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. “There are now more reasons to celebrate as this will allow the bureau to fully modernize its fire-fighting tools and lifesaving-equipment and professionalize the fire personnel and fire services,” he said.
With this development, the DILG Secretary said the BFP Modernization Bill will now be transmitted to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature. “I am confident that this will breeze through Malacañang since the President has always pushed for the modernization of the fire bureau in order to enhance the BFP’s firefighting capability,” he said.
The Senate approved the reconciled version of Senate Bill (SB) 1832 and House Bill (HB) 7406 with 14 ayes, four nayes, and two abstentions, including the provision authorizing a BFP special unit in each city and municipality to carry firearms.
“Not all BFP personnel will be authorized to carry firearms but only around 2,000 personnel who will be assigned under the proposed BFP Security and Protection Unit (SPU) in each city and municipality. We will see to it that this provision will not be abused,” said Año.
This early, Año instructed BFP Chief Jose S. Embang Jr. to get ready with the revised organizational structure and staffing, and needed documents for the additional procurement of fire trucks, modern fire-fighting tools and rescue and life-saving equipment as early as now.
Among the proposed modern firefighting equipment are fire boats for low-lying and coastal areas, helicopters for emergencies that cannot be reached by land vehicles; rescue and hazard material trucks, and other emergency vehicles and equipment. Said procurement will be done together with the mandated training and hiring of additional BFP personnel and construction of more fire stations nationwide.
At present, the BFP has 30,811 personnel which is only 55.74% of the country’s requirement of 55,270 fire officers to serve 110.54-million projected population this 2021. The ideal firefighter to population ratio is 1:2,000 and 1 fire truck needs 14 fire officers in order for it be fully ready at all times in case of fire and rescue natural disasters or calamities, COVID-19 responses, and even Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) threats.
Meanwhile, the Bureau has 3,046 out of the needed 3,947 firetrucks, and 1,194 of these are over 20 years old. So far, only 1,852 (46.92%) fire trucks across the country are well-conditioned for use anytime.
“Napakalaki ang kakulangan ng bilang ng ating mga bumbero, fire trucks at kagamitan ngunit sinisikap pa rin nilang makaresponde sa sunog at iba pang sakuna sa loob lamang ng pitong minuto,” Año explained.
“Kaya napakalaking hakbang tungo sa pagpapalakas ng kakayahan ng BFP ang BFP modernization bill para mas maging mabilis ang kanilang pagtugon at pag-aksyon sa sunog at iba pang emergency kasama na ang COVID-19,” he added.
