Quezon City Memorial Circle
4 April 2016
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the distribution of 135 fire trucks and 144 patrol jeeps as part of the administration’s commitment to modernize and enhance the capability of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other public safety services under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“Sa mga karagdagang sasakyang tangan ninyo, inaasahang higit pa ninyong magagampanan ang mandatong pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng sambayanan,” the President said in his speech.
DILG Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento accompanied President Aquino in a simple turn over ceremony of the new Rosenbauer fire trucks and Mahindra Enforcer patrol jeeps at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.
The new fire engines have an improved water capacity of up to 3,800 liters, a water monitor that can pump water 12 stories high, and can carry up to seven firemen inside its air-conditioned cabin.
A total of 561 fire trucks were procured from July 2010 to December of last year for PhP 4.25 billion. All cities in the country plus 1,194 municipalities out of 1,489 are equipped with at least one fire truck. The administration is planning to procure 369 more fire trucks this year to help the BFP reach the standard ratio of one fire truck for every 28,000 Filipinos.
The 144 patrol jeeps distributed, on the other hand, is part of the repeat order of 186 Mahindra Enforcer patrol jeeps purchased under the Capability Enhancement Program (CEP) fund of CYs 2011-2013, originally used to procure 1,470 patrol jeeps.
“Ang bumberong dating niririsko ang sariling buhay, meron nang mga kinakailangang kagamitan para mailigtas ang ibang buhay; ang pulis naman, talagang umaangat ang kakayahan para mapanatili ang katiwasayan sa mga pamayanan,” President Aquino said.
To further improve the performance and security of firemen, the administration also procured personnel protective equipment like self-contained breathing apparatus for the BFP costing Php 203.08 million.
The PNP’s modern systems such as the Integrated Ballistics Identification System and the Closed-Circuit Television Project were also added into the force’s arsenal against crime.
* * *