By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent
The Bureau of Fire Protection – Cagayan de Oro Fire Station (BFP-COFS) is set to construct and install five more fire stations in thickly populated barangays of the city as part of its 2017 mandate, Cagayan de Oro District Fire Marshall Rommel Villafuerte told city councilors during the budget deliberation at the City Council on last Friday.
Villafuerte identified the barangays of Gusa, Indahag, Canitoan, Iponan and Puntod as among the top site they selected for the new installation of fire stations on thickly populated areas in the city.
City hall has alloted P8 million for BFP’s Maintenance, Operation, Equipment, and Expenses (MOEE) with a capital outlay of P500 thousand.
“We already coordinated our plans to City Mayor Oscar Moreno to establish fire stations but we were told to acquire several fire trucks for the city first,” he said.
However, under the new Fire Code Revenue under the BFP program, they would give 20% allotment for all local government units from fire registrations and inspection fees implemented by any local fire stations.
BFP record shows that from 2010 to 2014, the BFP is set to allocate and share the amount of P13 million for Cagayan de Oro and another P3 million for the year 2015 and 2016.
Villafuerte said the BFP has yet to release the funds after the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has yet to be signed by both parties.
“Initially under fire protection plan and budget they need more equipment like fire hoses, possible entry tools, breathing apparatus and other fire fighting equipment but the Mayor wanted to purchase fire trucks this 2016,” he added.
Majority Floor Leader and city councilor Ian Mark Nacaya said they will facilitate the immediate signing of the MOA between the local chief executive and BFP personnel considering that BFP-central office in Metro Manila is set to release P3.26 billion of Fire Code fees collected from 2010 to 2013.
The Department of Budget and Management wishes to clarify that the shares of local government units from Fire Code fees from 2010 to 2013 are available for release, once the BFP submits documentary requirements on total collections.
Republic Act No. 9154 or the Comprehensive Fire Code of the Philippines states that LGUs should receive 20% of the total collection from Fire Code fees while the remaining 80% should cover the modernization of BFP.
The BFP must also provide DBM with a special budget request indicating how it intends to use the funds, which can include the operation and maintenance of local fire stations, or the repair or procurement of fire trucks and equipment.
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