CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Officials from the Region 7 office of the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) in a recent forum here marking fire prevention month underlined that Central Visayas continues to sorely lack fire trucks, pertinent equipment and volunteers to widen the fight against damages and loss of lives due to fire incidents.

BFP 7 Chief, Regional Operations Division Supt. Felipe Canillas said that although water supply is no longer a big problem in the region the lack of equipment and volunteers remains an issue.

Canillas said they have been requesting local government units to have their own mini-fire tracks stationed in their barangays to serve as front liner in responding to emergency cases and to augment current available services.

In the province of Cebu alone, which is said to be the richest province in the region, ten towns still do not have fire trucks. These towns include Tudela, Poro and Pilar in the Camotes group of islands as well as Sta. Fe and Madridejos in Bantayan island.

Meanwhile, 42 municipalities in Siquijor, Bohol and Negro Oriental also do not have all the necessary vehicle and equipments to adequately fight against fire.

In Bohol, only 18 of 47 towns have fire-fighting equipment while Negros Oriental has 10 and Siquijor, three.

BFP7 Deputy for Operations Esmael Codilla also saiod that the Bureau could not afford to provide fire trucks to all towns, as then, Government would have to spend some P1.040 billion if it were to give all 52 towns a fire truck each.

Codilla noted that a brand new fire truck would cost between P20 million to P25 million.

BFP 7 has currently 136 serviceable fire trucks, 18 of which were purchased by local government units.