13 of Mandaue’s 35 fire hydrants defective

CEBU, Philippines —  Thirteen of Mandaue City’s 35 fire hydrants are either defective or non-operational, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

‎Mandaue BRP chief Fire Chief Inspector Alvin Torion revealed the status of the city’s fire hydrants during a regular session of the Mandaue City Council, where he presented the BFP’s firefighting efforts and operational challenges.

‎“Atong pinaka-concern kay ang 13 kabuok defective fire hydrants nga naa g’yud sa sentro sa Mandaue. I am hoping ma-address ni nato,” Torion said.

‎Torion said that of the 35 fire hydrants across Mandaue City, only 10 have high water pressure capable of sustaining a fire truck during a fire. The remaining hydrants operate at low to medium pressure, which is insufficient to meet the required volume of water during emergencies.

‎He noted that the 13 defective hydrants are located in the city center, a critical area for emergency response due to population density and commercial activity.

‎Torion added that the BFP has already coordinated with the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) regarding possible remedies, but the agency informed them that it currently has no allocated budget to repair the defective hydrants.

‎During the same session, Councilor Jennifer Del Mar, chairwoman of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction, filed a floor resolution requesting MCWD officials to appear before the council in the next session to explain their side.

‎She added that the council wants to determine whether the city will continue its partnership with MCWD concerning the maintenance and repair of fire hydrants.

‎Torion explained that hydrants with medium to low pressure may take two to four hours to fill, depending on the available water supply. ‎He said that in light of MCWD’s budget constraints, the local government unit may need to consider possible resolutions to address the issue.

‎Torion also told the council that MCWD raised concerns about fire hydrants being used for purposes other than firefighting. He said some residents draw water from hydrants even without a fire alarm, which he stressed is a violation of the Fire Code.

He reminded concerned communities to report to their barangay offices and help monitor the city’s fire hydrants to prevent the taking advantage of the water supply.

‎Torion also emphasized the importance of functional hydrants.

‎“Dili man ang fire truck ang mupalong sa kalayo, tubig man,” Torion said.

‎Currently, the BFP Mandaue station has four fire trucks, supplemented by force multipliers from barangays across the city.

The BFP also urged the Mandaue City Government to install at least one fire hydrant in every barangay to strengthen the city’s fire preparedness and address existing concerns over water access during fire incidents, especially amid the continuing effects of El Niño.

Torion emphasized the importance of having at least one operational fire hydrant in each of the city’s 27 barangays, saying it would significantly help firefighters immediately contain fires before they spread.

He explained that quick access to water is one of the most critical factors in fire response, particularly in densely-populated communities where fire can rapidly escalate within minutes. He identified Barangays Subangdaku, Tingub, and Guizo as the top three high-risk areas in Mandaue City in terms of fire incidents.

He said these barangays are considered vulnerable due to several hazards, including narrow pathways that make it difficult for fire trucks to enter affected areas, as well as limited water access during emergencies.

Torion stressed that the installation of additional fire hydrants in these areas would greatly improve firefighting operations and reduce response time during incidents.

Del Mar asked Torion how important fire hydrants are in ensuring fires are extinguished on time.

“Personally ma’am, based on my experience, mas okay pa ang daghan nga fire hydrants kaysa sa daghan nga fire truck kay wala may mahimo ang fire truck og wala tay tubig ma’am,” said Torion. — Daniela Casas, CNU intern/BRP(FREEMAN)