Beyond Loyola Lost in the fire

THE PHILIPPINES is no stranger to heat, but this familiarity with warmth does not discount the fact that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported 13,029 fire incidents in 2022.

With the enactment of the BFP Modernization Act in 2021, ongoing discussions on the country’s ability to respond to these incidents center around the questions of sufficient manpower and equipment. However, factors such as poverty and urbanization continue to loom over the issue. These factors often force residents to resort to hazardous practices to meet their daily needs.

UNWELCOMED FIRE

In 2022, a single fire incident in Barangay Baesa, Quezon City resulted in an estimated Php 500,000 worth of property damage, affecting over 100 families.

According to the BFP National Capital Region (NCR) Senior Superintendent Douglas Guiyab, there are three main factors that affect causes of fire incidents, namely: socioeconomic status, type of occupancy, and population density. He states that areas that are more congested, including “tinderbox slums,” are less likely to be compliant with fire safety standards. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction also reports that informal settlements are more prone to fire hazards due to high building density and limited construction options, leaving residents with highly flammable materials.

In some parts of the Philippines, informal settlers have accepted the chance of fire as a part of their lives. Aside from the high population density and the use of easily combustible materials, some informal settlements depend on illegal and unsafe electrical connections as their source of power.

Guiyab adds that there are highly dense areas in NCR, with small, packed streets making it difficult for firetrucks to operate.

In addressing this problem, Guiyab cites the firehose cabinet program, which reduced damages in populous areas.

Another problem that the BFP faces is the lack of fire zoning in some residential areas. The concept of fire zoning is used in urban planning in order to minimize the risk of fire spreading in a community. In the Philippines, fire zoning is mandated under the National Building Code, which includes the placement of specific buildings in an area based on occupancy, construction type, and resistance to fire. Implementation, however, remains lacking. “Once na nagkaroon ng fire incident, it is hard for us (BFP) dahil madaling matutok ‘yung [mga] bahay (It is difficult for the BFP to handle incidents because fire spreads easily when there is no fire zoning),” Guiyab states.

Propping Up Defenses

The Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 provide that the BFP may coordinate with governmentowned and -controlled corporations and private institutions for assistance. Guiyab names petroleum companies among these institutions. He says that these petroleum companies help implement the proper storage and disposal of flammable materials to combat fires resulting from the backyard refilling of butane canisters. This is because when sold, these canisters holding what is known as “bote-bote” gasoline pose serious threats to health and safety, as only licensed and authorized gas refilling stations can sell such products.

Moreover, the BFP NCR Intelligence and Investigation Section provides that electrical arcing or overloading of current in a circuit and loose connections were among the top causes of fire in Caloocan, Makati, Muntinlupa, and Quezon City last year. In response to these incidents, the BFP pursued a Memorandum of Agreement with the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to streamline joint fire response and assistance. Guiyab added that cooperation with Meralco helps reduce firefighters’ electrocution-related injuries and also contributes towards the BFP’s goal of reaching firegrounds within five to seven minutes, enhancing emergency response capabilities.

As of February 2023, the BFP NCR ALSO saw the procurement of over 3,000 fire hydrants in the East Zone of Metro Manila through its partnership with the region’s water concessionaire. Guiyab identified Manila Water as a water supplier for fire incidents and a provider of fire hydrants in strategic locations around the region.

Despite such advancements in the capability of the BFP to respond to fire incidents, there remain setbacks in the BFP operations, particularly concerning insufficient funding for equipment in the capital. However, according to Guiyab, this requires the Fire Safety and Enforcement Department to coordinate with the City Municipal Business Permits and Licensing Office to conduct inventory of buildings and establishments. He adds the importance of the BFP’s Fire Code fee collection and the facilitation of payment systems, which are the main revenue sources for the purchase of fire trucks, firefighting equipment, and the construction of fire stations.

PREVENTION PARTNERSHIPS

Guiyab commended Executive Order No. 56 by former President Rodrigo Duterte, which allowed the BFP to become a primary service responder for medical emergencies, rescue operations, and material hazards. The order has resulted in increased procurement of fire trucks and personal protective equipment with hiked salaries and mass recruitment.

In 2021, the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act was enacted to enhance personnel capability and acquire new fire prevention, suppression, investigation, and emergency medical and rescue service facilities and equipment. This, Guiyab notes, is to combat what the BFP National Headquarters recognized as a shortage in firefighters and deployable fire trucks nationwide.

Aside from standing fire prevention systems, Guiyab names community involvement as the largest contributing component to improving the country’s fire prevention capacity. “ Sa pamamagitan ng mga proyekto namin, like Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan, hindi kami nagkukulang sa pagpapaalala sa komunidad araw-araw sa mga pamamaraan [kung] paano makaiwas sa sunog (Through our projects, like Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan, we do not fail to remind the community everyday of ways to avoid fire),” Guiyab says.

However, the issue remains that some urban neighborhoods have roads that are too narrow, often resulting in fire trucks being unable to enter certain passageways. As a response to this, Guiyab recalls BFP NCR Chief Superintendent Nahum Tarroza’s fire hose cabinet installation project, allowing residents to access fire suppression gear before BFP personnel arrive within their five-minute target response time. This project trains community members to properly respond to fire-related emergencies, which is one of the BFP’s goals.

The BFP also eyes the creation of more fire brigades and volunteer training for stronger fire prevention and response at the community level, as volunteer efforts have shown potential for disaster risk reduction and management. In previous years, the likes of the Bacolod Chamber and Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade have been awarded for their

BY CLAYTON DEJILLAS AND SOHAILA ANGEL F. SOMERA

dedication to working with the government in fire protection and humanitarian assistance, respectively. The Filipino-Chinese community is also an active participant in volunteer fire protection efforts, having organized the Association of Philippine Volunteer Fire Brigades Inc. as early as 1976.

Guiyab states, “Kaya nga ang tema natin is ‘Sa pag-iwas sa sunog, ‘di ka nag-iisa.’ Kailangan din namin ng mga stakeholders and private agencies na pwedeng tumulong sa amin.” (Our theme is ‘In fire prevention, you are not alone.’ We need stakeholders and private agencies to help us.)

Three months into 2023, the BFP has recorded over 1,900 fire incidents in the country. This statistic is notably 21% lower than last year’s 2,520 incidents, but fires nevertheless continue to endanger citizens as reforms and implementation lag behind.