Iloilo board seeks probe, new firetrucks for provincial towns

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Iloilo Provincial Board Member Mark P. Palabrica called for a review of the condition and allocation of firetrucks in the province, citing concerns over aging and unserviceable units that could weaken emergency response in several municipalities.

Palabrica raised the issue in a privilege speech during the March 10 regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and urged the provincial board to seek stronger fire protection support from national government agencies.

Citing reports from the provincial fire marshal, Palabrica said 15 of the 93 firetrucks in Iloilo province are currently unserviceable, many of which are already decades old.

The province has 43 municipal fire stations and two city fire stations that depend on these vehicles for emergency response.

“These numbers are not abstract statistics; behind each unserviceable unit is a town or city that may be left exposed to danger,” Palabrica said.

He cited the municipality of Bingawan as an example, noting that the town’s assigned firetruck has repeatedly been out of order and could not be relied upon during recent fire incidents.

On Feb. 20, a fire broke out in Barangay Malitbog Ilaya, Bingawan.

Responders had to rely on a firetruck from neighboring Calinog because the municipality’s own unit was unserviceable.

The alarm was received at 2:37 p.m., and responding personnel arrived at the scene at 3:01 p.m. after traveling about 14 kilometers.

The fire partially damaged a residential house but resulted in no injuries.

Another fire occurred on Feb. 26 in Barangay Poblacion, Bingawan.

The incident affected a portion of a residential house and caused an estimated PHP 120,000 in damage.

Responding units came from the Tapaz Fire Station using a Mitsubishi Fuso firetruck and from the Calinog Fire Station.

Palabrica noted that the primary firefighting capability again came from outside the municipality.

Records from the Bingawan Fire Station show that the town’s current firetruck, a Hyundai Daeyang pumper first procured in 1998, has repeatedly been declared unserviceable in recent years because of multiple mechanical defects.

These defects include engine compression loss, worn clutch components, a defective starter, discharged batteries, water tank leakage, defective brakes, and structural damage to major parts such as the chassis and differential.

Palabrica said repairs have been attempted over time, but the vehicle has already reached the end of its useful life and can no longer be relied upon during emergencies.

The Bingawan local government has repeatedly requested a replacement unit from national authorities.

A formal request was sent to the Department of the Interior and Local Government on June 29, 2024, which was later referred to the Bureau of Fire Protection national headquarters.

In a reply dated Jan. 28, 2025, the BFP said the request had been lined up for programming as the agency was procuring firetrucks for distribution.

However, the municipality is still waiting for the delivery of a replacement firetruck.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Bingawan also passed Resolution No. 13-2024 requesting a firetruck from the DILG.

Palabrica added that although the BFP Bingawan office recently received an auxiliary green vehicle, it is not a standard pumper truck with adequate water tank capacity and firefighting systems for larger fires.

He said Bingawan, an upland municipality located relatively far from other fire stations, remains vulnerable when its lone firetruck breaks down.

Bingawan is a fourth-class municipality in the province’s 4th District, situated in the interior highlands of Panay Island, making it one of the more geographically isolated towns in Iloilo with limited access to mutual aid from neighboring fire stations.

The board member emphasized that the problem extends beyond a single municipality.

“In our province, several fourth-class municipalities have only one firetruck, many of which are already old and prone to breakdowns,” he said.

Some local governments have attempted to address the problem using their own resources.

Palabrica cited Batad, which procured its own firetruck, while Bingawan has applied for a Land Bank of the Philippines loan to acquire a water tanker that can support firefighting operations.

Still, he said national government support remains crucial to close the gap in fire protection services in the province.

Palabrica urged the provincial board to pass a resolution requesting the BFP and the DILG to provide an update on the status of Bingawan’s request for a new firetruck.

He also proposed a provincewide inventory of firetrucks, including their age, condition, and serviceability, to guide the allocation of firefighting equipment.

He further recommended referring the matter to the Committee on Public Order and Security for an investigation in aid of legislation.

The inquiry may invite officials from the DILG and the BFP to explain the current situation and outline plans to improve fire protection services in Iloilo.

“Fire protection is not a luxury; it is a basic service,” Palabrica said.

He stressed the need to ensure communities receive timely emergency response when fires occur.

The 15th Sangguniang Panlalawigan later adopted a resolution supporting the call for a review of fire protection resources in the province.

The measure was approved as Iloilo joins the rest of the country in observing Fire Prevention Month this March, an annual campaign led by the Bureau of Fire Protection to promote fire safety and preparedness.