MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Bureau of Fire Protection was questioned Friday at a Senate subcommittee hearing in which it proposed that part of its $94 million unspent fire truck fund buy more than 2,000 guns instead.
The Senate Finance Subcommittee deliberated on the draft budget of 251. 18 billion pesos of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and its dependencies, adding the BFP.
In 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the BFP Modernization Act, which provides for the arming of 2,282 or 7. 9% of the more than 32,800 FPB troops. Duterte said arming the BFP would likely be moderate because firefighters “are exposed to so many dangers. “
“I’m saddened by the idea [of using] the savings made on chimney trucks to buy chimney arms,” he said. “So ang tanong ko na lang (I will only ask this question), if it is under your strength and authority , under your review system, gawin ninyo iyan (do it) – but (but) forty-five million P are for how much truck chimney?”Asked.
Puracan responded that with the forty-five million pesos of the savings of 94 million pesos from the BFP, 3 chimney trucks can be purchased at 15 million pesos each.
“So the political question is: 3 more fire trucks or more than 2000 weapons?I think for the FPB it’s a no-brainer, because you know what you’re supposed to do,” Pimentel explained.
Echoing her colleague’s concern, Sen. Nancy Binay said the FPB prioritizes addressing the shortage of fire trucks over purchasing firearms. In addition, he noted that the FPB could simply coordinate with the police to ensure some security.
(Perhaps it’s best used only to buy fire trucks instead of firearms, since intelligent coordination between the PNP and FPB is possible. PNP can keep our firefighters safe in fires. )
Senator JV Army, for his part, suggested that the BFP realign its priorities and supply trucks and fire stations to the poorest localities and municipalities.
The call came after Puracan revealed that 203 municipalities across the country have fire stations.
The army also asked the BFP if two hundred local government sets did not have car bombs. The head of the FPB showed the information.
“Nagtataka ako, there are still villages and townships na sila pa iyong nakakakuha ng bago [chimney trucks],” the army said.
(I wonder why first-class towns and municipalities are the first to get the new chimney trucks. )
“Cities and municipalities, from the first moment, can be cared for and equipped with elegance,” he emphasized. “Huwag tayo magpapadala sabi ng legislators. truck] sa karatig na bayan.
(Let us not be influenced by legislators. Let’s just say the ones that don’t deserve to be prioritized because they’re pitiful, just fire trucks from nearby cities. )
But Puracan said BFP uses a formula in its stack truck distribution.
Under the 2023 spending program, 27. 77 billion pesos are reserved for the FPB. With the testimonies of Kristelle Anne Razon, intern
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