ILOILO City – Modernizing the Bureau of Fire Protection’s (BFP) firefighting capabilities is important, according to the agency’s outgoing Western Visayas director, Fire Senior Superintendent Alan Aladano. Serving the bureau for 30 years and eight months, Aladano will retire soon.
“We need to procure more fire trucks and activate more municipal fire stations,” Aladano said after a testimonial ceremony for his retirement at the Dinagyang Grandstand here Friday evening last week.
He also stressed the importance of timely BFP response to fire calls “to prevent further fire damage.”
Data from BFP Region 6 showed the following having to fire stations:
* San Dionisio in Iloilo
* Isabela and Pulupandan in Negros Occidental
* Pan-ay, Capiz
* Batan, Banga, Lezo, Madalag, Makato, Malinao, and Nabas in Aklan
* Anini-y, Caluya and Hamtic in Antique
“But our national headquarters do not stop acquiring fire equipment. From time to time, we have this procurement,” said Aladano.
Meanwhile, Leonard Bañago, BFP chief director, assured Western Visayas of continuous procurement of fire trucks and fire equipment.
“Hopefully, by the end of the year, 56 first-class fire trucks will be delivered,” he said.
He noted that about 300 municipalities in the country, including those in Western Visayas, still have no fire stations.
“Our target is to establish at least one fire station in each municipality and it is part of the modernization plan,” said Bañago. (PNA)
