SATURDAY’S blaze that hit the 11th floor of a high-rise under construction at the Iloilo Business Park has not just sparked flames but has also ignited a crucial conversation about the adequacy of our city’s fire defense capabilities. Fire Chief Superintendent Melanie Hebawel’s candid revelation about the Iloilo City Bureau of Fire Protection’s (BFP) struggles during the incident is a sobering reminder of the infrastructure deficits we face in emergency preparedness.
In the rapidly urbanizing landscape of Iloilo City, the skyline is increasingly punctuated with high-rise structures. This architectural evolution demands a corresponding upgrade in our firefighting apparatus. The absence of ladder trucks is not a mere oversight; it is a gaping vulnerability in our city’s public safety and disaster response framework.
The critical role of ladder trucks cannot be overstated. Their presence — or in this case, their absence — can mean the difference between life and death. With capabilities to reach towering heights and provide platforms for rescues, these vehicles are indispensable. The fact that our brave firefighters had to resort to climbing stairs with hoses is both a testament to their indomitable spirit and a stark illustration of their hamstrung potential due to equipment deficiencies.
While the assistance from the Federation Iloilo Fire Brigade and ICAG Volunteer Fire Brigade was instrumental in controlling the recent fire, it is a stopgap solution that exposes a more systemic problem. Dependence on external agencies is not sustainable and speaks volumes about the urgency with which this issue needs to be addressed.
It is also a matter of economic prudence. Iloilo City’s growth as a commercial hub is tied to the perception and reality of its safety infrastructure. Investors and residents alike need confidence that their lives and properties are protected. Every fire incident in a high-rise building that is not contained efficiently can shake this confidence, potentially slowing down investment and increasing insurance costs, which in turn could have a ripple effect on rental prices and the cost of living.
As Iloilo City aspires to maintain its trajectory towards becoming a dynamic urban center, it must not lose sight of the fundamentals that sustain growth. We urge the local government and relevant national agencies to prioritize the procurement of essential firefighting equipment. An investigation into Saturday’s fire will tell us what happened, but the lessons here are already clear: We need to invest in our capacity to respond to emergencies, or we risk losing more than just buildings — we risk losing lives and the hard-earned progress of our city.
Iloilo City must choose the path of proactive preparedness and ensure that when the next alarm sounds, its firefighters are as equipped in reality as they are in courage and determination.
