BFP needs 500 new firemen

MANILA, Philippines—The government is seeking 500 new firefighters to fill vacancies in the Bureau of Fire Protection, the agency said.

The BFP said it opened a quota for the recruitment of new fire officers “to address the lacking number of firefighters/BFP personnel nationwide.”

In a September 11 memorandum, BFP personnel director Senior Superintendent Maria Sofia Mendoza said there were 500 vacant slots for the position of Fire Officer 1 approved by the agency’s director Rolando Bandilla.

“The recruitment of new Fire Officer 1 is one of the BFP’s first considerations in the continuous promotion of efficient fire service to the public,” the agency said in a statement.

Along with its modernization program, the hiring of new personnel is seen to strengthen the capability of the BFP in responding to fires and other emergencies, the BFP said.

“At present, some areas in the country are still in great need of additional manpower for fast and effective response to fire and other emergencies,” it said

Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo earlier said 645 towns and cities do not have fire stations, while 666 others make do with only “old and dilapidated” fire trucks, prompting his department to speed up the purchase of 170 fire trucks this year.

To qualify for FO1, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, be 21 or older, at least 5’4 in height for males and 5’2 for females, and must not weigh more or less than 5 kilograms from the standard body weight for their height.

Interested and qualified persons may submit a folder containing required documents to the Personnel Resource Management Division at the BFP National Headquarters, Room 702, at 145 Union Square Condominium, 15th Ave., Cubao, Quezon City.

They must present a handwritten personal data sheet with a recent 2” x 2” ID photo, a Report of Rating/Board Rating authenticated by the Professional Regulation Commission or a Certificate of Eligibility authenticated by the Civil Service Commission.

Other documents needed include transcript of records, original National Statistics Office-issued birth and marriage certificates, and various barangay, police and court clearances.