The Senate passed by unanimous vote the proposed Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Bill providing modern firefighting tools and life-saving equipment, as well as additional firemen mandated to undergo relevant training.
Embodied in Senate Bill 1832, the enabling legislation sponsored by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa breezed through with 23 affirmative votes, no negative votes and no abstention.
To be known as BFP Modernization Act once enacted into law, it is aimed at helping the bureau pursue its mandate of promoting public safety by saving lives and protecting property in times of emergencies.
Dela Rosa, in sponsoring the measure, said the enabling legislation is intended to “ensure that the BFP will be “well-quipped and sufficiently manned to suppress fire and respond to calamities.”
The senator assured that “we will not allow the BFP to prevent and suppress destructive fires alone.”
“With the help of Senate Bill 1832, we can ensure there will be enough fire officers, fire trucks, personal protective equipment and other equipment needed to promptly put out deadly fire incidents,” he said.
Apart from that, the senator added that BFP personnel can better perform their task as “first responders” in case of accidents and other emergency incidents.
Moreover, Dela Rosa pointed out that Senate Bill 1832 expands the BFP’s functions to include prevention and suppression of fire in all buildings, houses and other structures located inside economic zones, agro-industrial economic zones, free ports, and special economic zones, IT parks/centers, tourism economic zones, and other similar entities.
In addition, the bureau’s functions include responding to “natural and man-made disasters and assist in rescue and emergency medical services” provided that the BFP would coordinate and cooperate with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and local government units (LGUs).
As passed, the BFP Modernization Bill also provides for a modernization program consisting components, such as “fire protection service, force restructuring and organizational development, capability, material, and technology development, specialized services development, and human resource development.”
Dela Rosa added: “With the help of Congress we can fulfill a dream for all localities to have their own fire station and fire truck and provide all firefighters with protective equipment while putting out deadly fire incidents.”
“Again, with the help of Congress, our dream to have fire trucks and fire stations in every municipality could be achieved; hopefully, we can see firefighters with protective equipment while suppressing deadly fires; no more stories of fatalities due to lack of ambulances during accidents and emergencies,” the senator said, even as he assured the public that the Senate will ensure proper funding for the modernization of the BFP.
Read full article on BusinessMirror