Department of
the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary
Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos
Jr. led the distribution of
56 new firetrucks to recipient local government units
(LGUs) nationwide as he
assured the public that
public safety remains to be
top a priority of President
Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
and the Department.
“Ang pamamahagi ng mga makabago at
state-of-the-art fire trucks
na ito ay isang testamento
na pangunahing prayoridad ng ating Pangulong
Marcos at ng DILG ang
kaligtasan ng ating mga
pamayanan at ng mga
mamamayan,” Abalos
said during the turnover
ceremony in the Bureau of
Fire (BFP) Headquarters
in Quezon City.
Abalos said the
firetrucks, which cost
P14-million each, were
distributed to Region 1
with six units; Region 2
with three; Region 3 with
five; Region 4A with seven; Region 4B with four;
Region 5 with three; Region 6 with three; Region
7 with four; Region 8 with
two; Region 9 with four;
Region 10 with one; Region 11 with four; and, Region 12 with five.
The Bangsamorro Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao also
received one firetruck; two
for the Cordillera Administrative Region; and one
each for National Capital
Region and CARAGA.
Each of the
firetrucks is fully equipped
with firefighting equipment, such as a complete
set of Firefighter’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Firefighter’s
Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus (SCBA); firefighting hoses and noz
zles; foam generating nozzle with alcohol-resistant
- aqueous Film Forming
Foam (AFFF); and other
firefighting operation tools
and accessories designed
using the appropriate fire
service standards adaptable to the country’s condition.
Abalos said the
distributed firetrucks are
among the 94 units of
1000-capacity fire trucks
that were part of the 2022
procurement plan of BFP.
He said 63 more units of
1000-gallon capacity fire
trucks and other modern
equipment are expected
to be procured for BFP this
2023.
The DILG Secretary likewise assured of
the continued enhancement of firefighters skills
saying that the BFP is
gearing towards introducing new learning, firefighting techniques and up-todate technologies in the
near future.
“Tuloy-tuloy po
ang pagpapalawig natin sa
kakayanan at kakayahan
ng ating mga firefighters to
realize the Bureau’s vision
to of a modern fire service
fully capable of ensuring a
fire-safe nation by 2034.
With the modern equipment we are providing our
BFP, let us remember that
our equipment is only as
effective as the individual
who runs it,” Abalos said.
With the DILG
Chief during the turnover
ceremony were BFP Chief
Louie S. Puracan, Acting
Deputy Chief for Administration Jesus P. Fernandez, DILG Undersecretary
Juan Victor R. Llamas,
and other BFP officials.
Local chief executives and
other representatives from
LGUs were also present
during the said activity.
