MANILA, Philippines - Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian yesterday turned over eight new fire engines worth over P15-million to the local Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Gatchalian said the city government gave away the eight fire trucks through the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC), noting that the local fire station has only three operational fire trucks.
“These (three fire trucks) are not enough to cover 32 barangays of a city with a land area of 44.59 square kilometers,” said Valenzuela City fire marshal Superintendent Mel Jose Lagan.
Citing data from BFP-NCR, Lagan said Barangays Punturin, Bignay and Lawang Bato in Valenzuela City are among the 50 barangays in Metro Manila that should have its own fire truck.
“This is due to their distance from the nearest fire station, the Central Fire Station in Barangay Malinta, which is more than a 30-minute drive,” said Lagan.