THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will provide the Bureau of Fire Protection with upgraded equipment with the P1 billion set aside to improve firefighting operations around the country, an official said.
DILG Acting Secretary Eduardo Año said that the DILG will buy tankers that can store 2,500 gallons to help firefighters extinguish fires faster and to save time, because they wouldn’t have to keep refilling.
“Bibili tayo ng tankers na magsu-supply ng tubig na hindi napuputol yung firefighting ating kabomberohan. Bibili rin tayo ng truck ladder na makakaabot ng more than five floors ang taas na building (We will buy tankers that can hold enough water to keep the firefighting operations continuous. We will also buy truck ladders that can reach up to five floors),” Año said.
He added that the BFP will also be equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus, firefighters’ boots and fireproof vests.
Año, speaking in an awarding ceremony last week for those who responded to the Metro Ayala Fire last January, commended the performance of the BFP-7.
“When people were running away from the danger, firefighters were going inside the danger zone,” Año said.
He added that the Metro Ayala Fire, which lasted nearly 70 hours, showed the bravery and bayanihan (cooperation) of Cebuanos. That fire also highlighted again the need to equip firefighters to deal with blazes in high-rize buildings. (JOB)