BACOLOD City – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Negros Occidental is facing a shortage of fire trucks.
Fire Senior Superintendent Arnold Alba, newly installed provincial fire marshal, said in a radio interview that they only have a total of 78 fire trucks in the whole province, with some municipalities having only one functional fire truck.
To respond effectively to emergencies, especially fires, Alba is asking the help of local government units in acquiring additional fire trucks for the BFP.
Meanwhile, as part of his program as the new head of the BFP-Negros Occidental, Alba said he plans to further enhance the skills of firefighters in the province.
He is eyeing to implement additional training and to develop the skills and expertise of BFP personnel.
As of November 2023, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the BFP, which is under the DILG, has a fleet of 2,912 fire truck units of different water-carrying capacities.
Of these, 465 were newly procured fire trucks, each with a 4,000-liter water tank and a 200-liter foam tank that can discharge 3,000 liters per minute at normal pressure.
However, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the said number of fire trucks was still short of the 4,191 fire trucks the BFP needs to comply with the international standard of one fire truck per 28,000 population. (Watchmen Daily Journal / with a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)/PN