Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to address a critical fire safety gap by ensuring that every town in the country has a fire station and at least one fire truck.

“This is a basic government service. Unahin natin ito, para makumpleto na tayo,” Gatchalian told BFP during a Senate hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of Interior and Local Government and its attached agencies.

Currently, 65 local government units (LGUs) in the country still do not have their own fire station, 47 of which are located in the BARMM region.

BFP Chief Jesus Fernandez said the main challenge is that many LGUs have yet to identify and turn over land for construction, a requirement for BFP funding.

Emphasizing the urgency of having a fire station and at least one fire truck in every municipality in the country, Gatchalian noted that fire trucks also aid in post-flood cleanup. He added that the BFP should adopt a more aggressive approach in lobbying for land donation by LGUs still without a fire station. 

Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS WIN GATCHALIAN