The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has distributed 56 brand new fire trucks to different towns in the country as part of its ongoing modernization plan.

The ceremony was held at the BFP headquarters in Quezon City led by Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr, assisted by BFP Chief Director Louie S. Puracan, Deputy Chief for Administration C. Supt. Jesus P. Fernandez and top fire officials.

Six fire trucks were earlier turned over to various recipients, while the other 56 units were received by the chief executives and representatives of recipient towns and cities.

Coming from the procurement budget of P1.4 billion allotted for BFP modernization plan last year, each fire truck which is fully equipped with sets of personal protective equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus, firefighting hoses and nozzles, foam-generating nozzle with alcohol-resistant aqueous film forming foam and other firefighting tools and accessories cost P14.5 million.

Currently, the country is facing a shortage of around 1,392 fire trucks to secure the safety of the entire Philippine population from the havoc of fire, according to BFP.

Around 4,191 more fire trucks are needed to fulfill the international standard rate of one fire truck per 28,000 population.

Currently, the Bureau has only 2,799 fire trucks deployed in fire stations nationwide. The brand-new Hino fire trucks have 240 HP Euro-4 compliant engines, a 4,000-liters water tank with a 200-liter foam tank and can discharge 3,000 liters per minute at normal pressure.

TURNOVER OF 56 UNITS BRAND NEW FIRE TRUCKS – Left photo, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. (center), together with Bureau of Fire Protection Chief Director Louie S. Puracan (4th from right) and Deputy Chief for Administration C. Supt. Jesus P. Fernandez (extreme left), distributes 56 units of 4,000-liters water tank with 200-liter foam tank Hino fire trucks to various towns in the country, received by their respective chief executives during the ceremony held at the BFP National Headquarters in Quezon City on July 5, 2023. (Benjie J. Murillo / BFP Photos)