202 municipalities have no fire trucks, says Angara

At least 121 municipalities in the country have no fire stations that can respond to fire incidents, Senator Sonny Angara said on Thursday.

Angara, sponsor of the 2024 proposed budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), also said 202 towns are without fire trucks. 

“121 municipalities with no fire stations…Pero mas marami po ang walang fire trucks, 202 municipalities,” Angara answered when asked about the status of fire facilities in the country.

(There are 121 municipalities with no fire stations and 202 municipalities with no fire trucks.)

With the lack of fire facilities, Senator JV Ejercito appealed to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to prioritize poor municipalities in procuring fire trucks and fire stations. 

“Just a reminder to the BFP chief to prioritize those that do not have fire trucks and fire stations. Kayang bumili ng cities and first-class municipalities. I hope that you can prioritize those LGUs that do not have fire trucks and stations,” said Ejercito. 

Angara said the BFP needs at least P1.21 billion to fill the lack of fire stations across the country and P2.46 billion to procure 164 new fire truck units. 

Meanwhile, Angara also said the BFP will return to the Bureau of Treasury funding worth P905 million. 

The BFP is also coordinating with the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) to cancel contracts for fire stations below 75% of completion to take over its implementation. They will request the budget again to continue the construction. 

Out of the 98 fire stations supposed to be procured under the PITC, Angara said only nine were completed and delivered after five years. 

A total of 52 fire stations are 75% to 99% complete, he added.

Meanwhile, senators deferred the plenary deliberations of the proposed 2024 budget of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III made the motion over an “impasse” on the allocation for the hiring of PNP personnel. 

“I move that we defer consideration of the budget for the PNP and just give them time to familiarize their budget, study it well, and come back at a certain date,” said Pimentel. 

The proposed budget of the DILG was approved.—LDF, GMA Integrated News