THE Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) will soon have 100 new fire trucks and one of these will be given to Zamboanga del Sur, interior and local government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said in a recent meeting with journalists, here.
The DILG official was the guest speaker in the 3rd regular meeting of the Regional Peace and Order (RPOC) held at Hotel Alindahaw where he said that the purchase of fire tucks is one of his priority programs during his stint in the DILG.
Puno added that the BFPs share of estimated P1-billion in Fire Code revenues will fund the so-called fire-fighting modernization program.
Under RA 9514 or the Revised Fire Code of the Philippines, the BFP retains 80% of the estimated P1 billion to P1.5 billion in fire code fees, thereby providing an institutional money pool to fund the BFP’s modernization program.
The secretary assured media that along with the acquisition of the fire trucks, additional fire fighting personnel will be hired starting this year as well as giving salary increases to them.
Last year, 58 fire trucks were proposed to be purchased to beef up the fire truck complement of the BFP, which has long been staggering by the lack of firetrucks, firefighting gear and other basic equipment.
REPORT BY PIA-9