Dela Rosa lauds signing of comprehensive BFP Modernization law after passing through the eye of a needle in the Senate

SENATOR Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa lauds the signing into law of Republic Act 11589 (RA 11589), or the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act by President Duterte on September 10, but admitted it had first passed through the eye of a needle in the Senate before it was ratified because of a provision to arm members of the bureau's security units.

In an interview last Saturday with Davao Del Sur-based DABIGC Radio, Dela Rosa, author and principal sponsor of the law in the Senate, said RA 11589 provides for adequate support for BPF modernization in terms of infrastructure improvement, acquisition of high-tech equipment, and capability enhancement trainings for its personnel.

"Sa batas na ito, ang ating mga bumbero ay mabibigyan ng sapat na suporta in terms of infrastructure, 'yung mga building nila, mga headquarters nila, mga opisina nila. In terms of equipage, 'yung mga latest na equipage na 'yung high-tech na sa kung anong mga kulang natin ngayon, 'yung mga sky ladder na mga kailangan natin. Of course, 'yung mga high-tech na firetruck at 'yung training nila," the Chairman of the Senate Committee of Public Order and Dangerous Drugs explained.

"Kasi ang bumbero natin ngayon ay hindi lang purely fire suppression ang trabaho kundi more on, naa na pud sila sa emergency (they are also part of emergency), EMT, emergency medical transport, or before madala sa hospital... ang mga bumbero nato (natin), andyan na sila. So, bigyan natin sila ng magandang training kung kayang ipadala sa abroad, gagastusan natin para ma-train sila sa abroad," The former top cop further said in mixed Visayan dialect and Filipino language.

Dela Rosa also disclosed that the law had to pass through the eye of a needle during plenary debates due to a hotly contested provision, which provides for the issuance of short firearms to firefighter-members of security and protection units that shall be created with the duty of protecting their colleagues during fire suppression and investigation operations.

"So, 'yan ang nireklamo ng mga kasamahan natin sa Senado, dahil ayaw talaga nila na armasan kaya hindi na-ratify sa first attempt. But second attempt, sinubo ko talaga ulit for ratification. Sa awa ng Diyos, we had the numbers. Meron pa ring nag-oppose, meron pa ring nag-object, kaya it resulted to botohan na naman. At least, nanalo na tayo this time sa botohan. Last time, nagkulang lang tayo ng isang boto," he said.

"Hindi naman lahat ng bumbero ay armasan natin. Sa bawat city fire station at sa regional fire office (lang), hindi kasama dito ang provincial fire office at saka 'yung municipal fire station... magkakaroon tayo ng 14 na bumbero na authorized na mag-carry ng firearms. Short arms lang, to secure their colleagues while conducting fire suppression operations at tsaka pag-conduct ng investigations, arson investigation," the Mindanaoan Senator added.

In his speech during the signing of the law, Duterte expounded on the provision. "There are so many challenges in the work of a bumbero, in the day of his life na kailangan protektahan. So with providing yung baril, yung bigyan lang sila kaunting unit, it would really be just to ward off threats and destruction of government properties," the president said.

Dela Rosa said that the Modernization of the BFP will be a 10-year plan set to begin next year, in 2022.

"This is a 10-year modernization program... By tranche ang pag release ng pondo... next year kaagad," the former top cop said.

According to the senator, the newly signed law will provide for a more comprehensive modernization to the fire department and provide the ideal fireman-to-population ratio.

"Although meron silang mga modernization program noon, pero hindi ganoon ka-comprehensive unlike ngayon na halos kumpleto talaga, maco-cover pati yung kakulangan nila sa manpower, sa personnel nila, talagang ibigay natin yung according to the ideal ratio of fireman to population ratio... isang fireman bawat 2,000 ka-tao," Dela Rosa said.