Negros island region: More personnel needed for BFP-18

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — More personnel are needed for the regional office of the Bureau of Fire and Protection, under the newly created Negros Island Region, or Region 18.

This was announced by Fire Senior Superintendent Wilberto Kwan Tiu, the appointed BFP-18 regional director, when he presided the first Regional Command Conference at the Capitol in this city last Tuesday.

Tiu estimated that more than 1,500 personnel should be assigned to BFP-18. “If we have to base the number of fire trucks and its manning requirement, we need 1,200 officers for the fire trucks only. We need more officers for the regional office, city and provincial offices,” he said.

Tiu said he is only officer appointed for the BFP-18 so far. It is a “one-man army for now, but I hope a bureau order will come out soon for additional officers for NIR,” he said.

At least 20 officers are needed for the regional office. “There should be an assistant regional director for administration, assistant regional director for operation, and regional chief of staff. Then for the regional office, there should be personnel for the administration, operation, logistics and budget,” he said.

For now, Tiu said designated officers will do dual functions, like being assigned as officer in the region, as well as acting marshals of the cities and municipalities in the region.

Currently, there are at least 508 personnel in the entire region, comprising the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, said Tiu who assumed the post on November 24.

Prior to his appointment as BFP-18 regional head, Tiu was the district fire marshal of CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela).

No fire stations in 12 LGUs

Tiu also announced that 12 local government units in the NIR still have no fire stations and firetrucks. These are the towns of Isabela, Pulupandan, Valladolid and Salvador Benedicto in Negros Occidental, and Ayungon, Dauin, La Libertad, Manjuyod, Pamplona, Sibulan, Vallehermoso, and Zamboangita in Negros Oriental.

The BFP-18 is now practicing a clustering approach to cover the LGUs without fire station, said Tiu. “We will do our best to request from the national headquarters for additional fire engines intended for the 12 LGUs,” he said.

“During a fire operation, it will be catered by the nearest fire stations in their area. But in terms of administration, especially on the fire safety inspection, I will try to designate somebody who will do a coordination work between the BFP and the LGU, especially on the matter of fire safety inspection,” he explained.

At present, the NIR has 51 fire stations and 87 firetrucks, 13 of which are, however, unserviceable, he said.    (FREEMAN)