Senate passes BFP modernization bill
THE Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill modernizing the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) by providing it modern firefighting tools, life-saving equipment and additional personnel.
The senators were unanimous in passing Senate Bill (SB) 1832, or the proposed BFP Modernization
Act, aimed at helping the BFP pursue its mandate of "promoting public safety by saving lives and protecting property in times of emergencies."
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said SB 1832 will ensure that the BFP will be well-equipped and sufficiently-manned to suppress fire and respond to calamities.
"With the help of SB 1832, we can ensure that we will have enough fire officers, fire trucks, personal protective equipment and other equipment needed to suppress deadly fires," he said in sponsoring its passage.
"Also, it will allow BFP to effectively perform their duty as first responders during accidents and other emergencies,” said the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.
SB 1832 expanded 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, information technology (IT) parks/ centers, tourism economic zones and other similar entities.
The bureau will also respond to natural and man-made disasters, assist in rescue and emergency medical services and cooperate with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and local government units.
SB 1832 is a substitute bill authored by Senate President Vicente
Sotto 3rd, Senators Christopher Lawrence Go, Ramon Revilla Jr. and dela Rosa.
The bill was co-authored by Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Pilar Juliana Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Maria Josefa Imelda Marcos, Emmanuel Pacquiao, Mary Grace Poe, Francis Tolentino, Emmanuel Joel Villanueva and Cynthia Villar.