123 municipalities nationwide still without fire trucks

Some of the fire trucks purchased by the Bureau of Fire Protection from Kolonwel Trading in 2017. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 123 municipalities nationwide still do not have fire trucks and stations, the spokesperson of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Fire Supt. Annalee Atienza, said on Friday.

Once more fire trucks are procured, the BFP will then hire additional personnel, Atienza said.

“For now, as of January, 123 municipalities do not have the service of the Bureau of Fire Protection, which means they do not have a fire truck and they do not have a fire station. There is just a fire prevention officer that implements the fire code,” she said in Filipino at the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” public briefing.

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According to her, 2024 marks the beginning of the implementation of the BFP modernization program, which will span 10 years.

The BFP also expects other equipment and vehicles, such as helicopters, Atienza said.

Republic Act No. 11589 or the BFP modernization law was signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2021.