Wikipedia

Bureau of Fire Protection

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP; Filipino: Kawanihan ng Pamatay-Sunog[4]) is the government body in the Philippines responsible for firefighting services. It is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Bureau of Fire Protection
Kawanihan ng Pamatay-Sunog
Operational area
CountryPhilippines
Agency overview
EstablishedJanuary 29, 1991; 33 years ago (1991-01-29)
Employees32,892 (2022 estimate) [1][self-published source?]
Annual budget₱27.11 billion (2023)[2]
Fire chiefFDIR. Louie S. Puracan, CEO VI
Motto"Save Lives and Properties"
Facilities and equipment
Stations51 (cities), 597 (municipalities) (2018)[3]
Trucks2,683 (2018)[3]
Website
https://bfp.gov.ph/

Functions and duties

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The BFP is responsible for ensuring public safety through the prevention or suppression of all destructive fires on buildings, houses, and other similar structure, forests, and land transportation vehicles and equipment, ships/vessels docked at piers, wharves or anchored at major seaports, petroleum industry installations. It is also responsible for the enforcement of the Fire Code of the Philippines (PD 1185) and other related laws, conduct investigations involving fire incidents and causes thereof including the filing of appropriate complaints/cases.[5]

According to its website, the primary functions of the BFP are[6]

  • Be responsible for the prevention and suppression of all destructive fires on:
    • Buildings, houses, and other structures;
    • Forests;
    • Land transportation vehicles and equipments;
    • Ships and vessels docked at piers or wharves anchored in major sea ports;
    • Petroleum industry installations;
    • Plane crashes; and
    • Other similar activities
  • Be responsible for the enforcement of the Fire Code of the Philippines (PD 1185) and other related laws;
  • Shall have the power to investigate all causes of fires and if necessary, file the proper complaint with the city or provincial prosecutor who has jurisdiction over the case;
  • In the time of national emergency, all elements of the BFP shall upon direction of the President, assist the AFP in meeting the national emergency; and
  • Shall establish at least one (1) fire station with adequate personnel, firefighting facilities, and equipments in every provincial capital, city and municipality subject to standard rules and regulations as maybe promulgated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) (Sec 56).

History

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Bureau of Fire Protection National headquarters along Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue (formerly Agham Road) in Quezon City

The BFP was formed from the units of the Integrated National Police's Office of Fire Protection Service on January 29, 1991 through Republic Act No. 6975, which created the present Interior Department and placed the provision of fire services under its control.[7]

Republic Act No. 6975, or the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, took effect on January 1, 1991 and paved the way for the establishment of the Philippine National Police, BFP and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology as separate entities. Specifically, the Fire Bureau's charter was created under Chapter IV (Section 53 to 59) and carried-out through the provisions of Rule VII (Sections 49 to 58) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the act. The organization was then placed under the direct supervision of the DILG undersecretary for peace and order. The Appropriation Act of 1991 also caused the inaugural operation of the BFP on August 2, 1991 as a distinct agency of the government, with the initial preparation of its operation plans and budget (OPB) undertaken by the staff of the Office of the National Chief Fire Marshal at Camp Crame, Quezon City headed by F/Brigadier General Ernesto Madriaga, INP (1990–1992), which took over from the long reign of F/Major Primo D. Cordeta (Ret.), the first chief fire marshal (1978–1989). Madriaga served as the BFP's first acting fire chief/director from 1991 to 1992.

The fire ranks used until 1991:[8]

Fire Brigadier General
Fire Colonel
Fire Lieutenant Colonel
Fire Major
Fire Captain
Fire Lieutenant
Fire Sergeant
Fire Corporal
Fireman First Class
Fireman

In 2021, Republic Act No.11589, or the BFP Modernization Act, was enacted into law, mandating the implementation of a ten year program to modernize the BFP.[9][10] The law also enabled the creation of security and protection units (SPUs) in each regional and city fire station and allowed 14 members at most per SPU to bear firearms.[11]

Organizational Structure

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The bureau is headed by a chief, and is assisted by a deputy chief. It has regional offices, headed by a person with the rank of chief superintendent or senior superintendent. It also has provincial offices, district offices, and city or municipal stations.

Aside from fire fighting units, the bureau has a Special Rescue/HAZMAT unit, an Emergency Medical Services unit, a Special Operations Unit, an Arson Investigation Unit, the Fire Law Enforcement Service, and the Fire National Training Institute.

The current leadership is as follows:

The National Headquarters is composed of:

  • Office of the Chief, BFP
  • Office of the Deputy Chief for Administration
  • Office of the Deputy Chief for Operations
  • BFP Directorial Staff
    • Directorate for Intelligence and Investigation
    • Directorate for Operations
    • Directorate for Plans and Standard Development
    • Directorate for Comptrollership
    • Directorate for Fire Safety Enforcement
    • Directorate for Logistics
    • Directorate for Personnel and Records Management
    • Directorate for Information and Communications Management
    • Directorate for Human Resource Development

Rank Structure

The ranks of commissioned officers are as follows:

  • Director
  • Chief Superintendent
  • Senior Superintendent
  • Superintendent
  • Chief Inspector
  • Senior Inspector
  • Inspector

The ranks of non-commissioned officers are as follows:

  • Senior Fire Officer 4
  • Senior Fire Officer 3
  • Senior Fire Officer 2
  • Senior Fire Officer 1
  • Fire Officer 3
  • Fire Officer 2
  • Fire Officer 1

Non-Uniformed Personnel

The bureau employs a host civilian personnel and employees having no rank. Civil service employees carry their civil service grade.

Equipment

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The bureau provides fire fighting vehicles depending on the jurisdiction's capabilities. Each city and municipality in the Philippines has one to four such vehicles in their inventories at a minimum.

This incomplete list is frequently updated to include new information.
Photos Model Origin Type Note
  Isuzu Forward Japan Medium Fire engine New Euro 4 variant was procured under Duterte Administration.
  Isuzu Giga Japan Heavy Fire engine New Euro 4 variant was procured under Duterte Administration.
  MAN TGM 18.250 Rosenbauer TLF 4000 Austria Heavy Fire engine Procured under the Aquino Administration. used in Highly-Urbanized Cities
Pierce Dash 100 United States Aerial Fire engine Acquired under Quezon City Government
  Hino Ranger Japan Medium Fire engine Acquired under Cebu City Government
  1982 Ford Roughneck F800 United States Medium Fire engine Procured during 1980's under the Marcos Administration. used in municipalities.
  Hyundai HD120 South Korea Medium Fire engine
  Dongfeng Hubei 4x2 China Medium Fire engine Procured under the Aquino Administration. used in municipalities
  Isuzu NDR Japan Light Fire engine

List of BFP Chiefs

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The following is an incomplete list.

Name Term Note
As the Chief National Fire Marshal of INP Office of Fire Protection
F/Maj. Primo D. Cordeta 1978 – 1989
F/BGen. Ernesto G. Madriaga 1990 – 1991
As the Chief, Bureau of Fire Protection
F/BGen Ernesto G. Madriaga 1991 – 1992 OIC
F/Maj. Gen. Mario Tanhanco[12] 1992 – 1993
F/BGen. Alfonso Torres Clemente 1993 – 1994
SSUPT Bonifacio Japson Garcia 1994
SSUPT Edgar Gayotin Gimotea 1994
SSUPT Felipe Tarroza Carpio 1994 – 1995
SSUPT Bonifacio Japson Garcia 1995 – 1997
SSUPT Gil Paz Jacinto 1997
SSUPT Donato Bernal Gonzales 1997 A medical doctor
SSUPT Rolando Martir Jacomille 1997
DIR Rogelio Naval Tumabaga 1997 – 1998
Raymundo E. Padua 1998 – 2000 In also as the DILG Assistant Secretary, a Police Superintendent (now P/Lt. Col.)[13]
CSUPT Francisco Shimotzu Senot [14] 2000 – 2004
DIR Rogelio Francisco Asignado [15] 2004 – 2006
DIR Jose Elisan Collado [16] 2006 – 2007
DIR Enrique Cumbe Lisangan [17] 2007 – 2008
DIR Rolando Maaño Bandilla [18] 2008 – 2011
CSUPT Samuel Rivera Perez [19] 2011 – 2012 OIC
CSUPT Ruben Fornaleza Bearis, Jr.[20] 2012 – 2013 Appointed as OIC first
CSUPT Carlito Saqueton Romero [21] 2013 – 2014
DIR Ariel Aguilar Barayuga [21] 2014 – 2016
CSUPT Rodrigo Reyes Abrazaldo [22] 2016
DIR Bobby Vargas Baruelo [23] 2016 – 2017
DIR Leonard Bañago [24] July 11, 2017 – September 29, 2017 OIC
September 29, 2017 – January 7, 2020
DIR Jose Embang Jr.[25][24] January 7, 2020 – September 7, 2021
DIR Louie Puracan [26][27] September 6, 2021 – October 12, 2021 OIC
October 12, 2021 – present

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bureau of Fire Protection". Facebook.
  2. ^ B. Bureau of Fire Protection
  3. ^ a b Mayuga, Jonathan L. (March 21, 2018). "Tragedy of fires: Death and destruction in the Philippines | Jonathan L. Mayuga". BusinessMirror.
  4. ^ Narvaez, Eilene Antoinette; Macaranas, Edgardo, eds. (2013). Mga Pangalan ng Tanggapan ng Pamahalaan sa Filipino (PDF) (in Filipino) (2013 ed.). Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. p. 6. ISBN 978-971-0197-22-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 29, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  5. ^ "History of BFP". Bureau of Fire Protection – Region 1. Retrieved October 9, 2020.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ "Mandates and functions". bfp.gov.ph. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  7. ^ "R.A. 6975". lawphil.net.
  8. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1184". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  9. ^ Caliwan, Christopher Lloyd (September 12, 2021). "New law to help BFP go beyond traditional firefighting role". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  10. ^ Ismael, Javier Joe (September 12, 2021). "BFP modernization law enactment lauded". The Manila Times. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  11. ^ Chavez, Chito (September 12, 2021). "Año says arming firefighters will expand their role during emergency, critical times". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  12. ^ Porcalla, Delon. "Child abuse charges vs ex-BFP chief dismissed". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  13. ^ Tabonares, Gina. "Fire bureau cleansing must start from the top". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  14. ^ Punongbayan, Michael. "Ex-BFP chief gets 90 years in prison". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  15. ^ Felipe, Bebot Sison Jr ,Cecille Suerte. "Former BFP chief owns up to paid ad on PNP promotions". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "BFP ordered to strictly enforce the Fire Code". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  17. ^ Felipe, Bebot Sison Jr ,Cecille Suerte. "DILG revamps top BFP officials". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Maaño, Ronaldo C.; Maaño, Roselyn A.; De Castro, Pedro Jose; Chavez, Enrico P.; De Castro, Susana C.; Maligalig, Cielito D. (August 23, 2023). "SmartHatch: An Internet of Things–Based Temperature and Humidity Monitoring System for Poultry Egg Incubation and Hatchability". 2023 11th International Conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICoICT). IEEE. pp. 178–183. doi:10.1109/icoict58202.2023.10262810. ISBN 979-8-3503-2198-2. S2CID 263228883.
  19. ^ Padua, Reinir. "Suspect tagged in BFP exec's mugging". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  20. ^ Felipe, Bebot Sison Jr ,Cecille Suerte. "Roxas names new BFP chief". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ a b Felipe, Bebot Sison Jr ,Cecille Suerte. "BFP has new chief". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Felipe, Bebot Sison Jr ,Cecille Suerte. "BFP to procure P2.5-B new fire trucks". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Marquez, Consuelo (October 5, 2019). "Former BFP chief Bobby Baruelo dies of cardiac arrest". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  24. ^ a b Gonzales, Cathrine (January 7, 2020). "New BFP acting chief vows to end corruption, malpractices in fire bureau". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  25. ^ "FIRE CHIEF JOSE EMBANG JR. RETIREMENT HONORS AND TURN OVER CEREMONY - Secretary's Corner - DILG". www.dilg.gov.ph. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  26. ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (September 6, 2021). "PS-DBM, PITC blamed over 'undelivered' BFP procurements from 2015 to 2017". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  27. ^ "Boholano BFP director promoted to two-star general". BOHOLCHRONICLE.COM.PH. October 12, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
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