The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is looking into investing in air assets in the next three to five years as one of the firefighting strategies after challenges encountered in the occurrence of grass and forest fires caused by the El Niño phenomenon in 2024.
MIMAROPA BFP Regional Director, Fire Senior Superintendent Edwin Vargas, said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday, July 30, that the hard-to-reach areas were one of the challenges in firefighting for the bureau.
Almost a hundred fire incidents were recorded in the region, with Palawan recording the most grass and forest-related fires due to the dry spell.
“Ang challenge ay kung hindi mararating ng fire trucks ‘yong mga lugar na nasusunog. Ang ginagawa natin ay lalakarin na lang nong tao natin hanggang makarating doon. Minsan gumagamit din ng sticks, sanga ng mga puno para mapatay ‘yong apoy,” Vargas said.
Alongside its response to fire incidents, the bureau has intensified the information campaign for fire prevention in the communities. It includes training the locals on planting methods that no longer include burning dried leaves.
Some of the causes observed are the practices of upland farming, particularly during the dry spell, he added.
BFP now trains some pilots for air assets that would be procured as part of the modernization project, however, Vargas said he has no idea yet about the budget allotted for the procurement of air assets.
“Sa forest fire na nangyari ay marami sa Palawan, sa ibang probinsya ng MIMAROPA ay manageable. Sa budget ay hindi ko alam, kami ay umaasa lang sa national headquarter sa saktong amount,” he said.
Aside from air assets, other assets under its modernization plan include fire and rescue trucks. In a few months, the bureau is also anticipating the arrival of its water asset.
In 2023, the BFP recorded a total of 109 firetrucks that were distributed to all provinces, which will increase to 113 in 2024 with the four procured trucks.
Meanwhile, BFP reported the completion of the construction of a fire station in Agutaya with a P7.3 million budget. There is also ongoing construction for the fire stations in Quezon, Magsaysay, Araceli, and Busuanga.
