BFP needs 1,500 additional fire trucks

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) needs 1,500 additional fire trucks to address the shortage of its fleet.

Records from the BFP showed it has at least 2,104 serviceable fire trucks nationwide as of June this year.

The figure is way below the ideal number of 3,606 fire trucks. 

It means 1,502 more fire trucks are needed for the bureau to cover the entire country.

Chief Inspector Jude delos Reyes, spokesman for the BFP, said there are still municipalities that don’t have fire stations and trucks.

These towns are usually located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where 96 areas have no such lifesaving equipment.

Delos Reyes said a town needs at least one fire truck and an ambulance, which it can use during calamities such as fire and earthquake.

He said the BFP would have procured more fire trucks if the suppliers did not file complaints when they lost in the bidding.

Delos Reyes said the complaints stalled the whole procurement process as the BFP had to comply with existing rules.

“We all know procurement process is very stringent and we have to abide with the rules” he said.

While most of the fire trucks are still in good condition, some are old, especially those in far-flung areas.

“We have units that have been around for 27 or 30 years,” Delos Reyes said.