Prioritize firetrucks over firearms, 2 senators tell BFP

Two senators on Friday urged the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to prioritize the procurement of firetrucks rather than weapons for firefighters.

At the Senate Finance Committee hearing on the Department of the Interior and Local Government's (DILG) proposed budget for 2023, Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III asked for updates on the procurement of firearms in line with the implementation of the BFP Modernization Act.

In 2021, then President Rodrigo Duterte signed the BFP Modernization Act, which allows firefighters to carry firearms during their operations.

Under the law, BFP Chief Director Louie Puracan said they were supposed to procure 2,282 firearms for personnel in 146 cities and 72 regional offices.

However, the Department of Budget and Management "begged to defer" the funding for the firearms procurement due to shortage of funds.

Puracan then asked the DBM to authorize the BFP to use its P94-million savings from fire truck procurement for the purchase of firearms which will cost around P45 million.

"May savings kasi kami ngayon around P94 million out of the savings from the procurement of firetrucks and we request for DBM to authorize us to use our savings for the procurement of these firearms," said Puracan.

But in Friday's Senate finance panel hearing, Pimentel questioned the procurement priorities of the BFP.

"I'm saddened with the idea to use savings from firetrucks to buy firearms. So ang tanong ko na lang, if that is within your power and authority under your review system gawin niyo yan, pero 45 million pesos is good for how many firetrucks?" Pimentel pointed out.

Puracan, in response, said each fire truck costs P15 million.

"Good for three (firetrucks). So, the policy question is: three more firetrucks or 2,000 plus firearms? So I think for the Bureau of Fire Protection, that should be a no-brainer because you know what you are supposed to do," Pimentel said.

Senator Nancy Binay backed Pimentel's manifestation, saying it's better to procure firetrucks first as BFP can tap the Philippine National Police to address public order concerns during fire rescue operations.

"I also support the call of the minority floor leader na baka mas maigi nga na pambili na lang to ng firetrucks kesa don sa baril kasi kung may magandang coordination naman ang PNP tsaka yung BFP, the PNP can provide the security for our fire personnel during pag may mga sunog tayo," Binay said.

At the early part of the hearing, the BFP was also urged to prioritize poorer local government units in the distribution of firetrucks.

Senator JV Ejercito made the call after the BFP disclosed that there are no fire stations in 203 local government units. —LBG, GMA News