MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has initiated the procurement of new fire trucks from South Korea as part of a broader effort to modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection’s (BFP) aging fleet.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla emphasized that the direct government-to-government agreement aims to boost emergency response efficiency while cutting out intermediaries to prevent corruption in BFP purchasing.
“This is the cleanest transaction that is possible with the best possible benefit for all Filipinos,” Remulla said.
Currently, the BFP operates 3,034 fire trucks distributed across 1,642 cities and municipalities nationwide. However, BFP data shows that 1,115 of these units—comprising roughly 36.75 percent of the total fleet—are two decades old or older, making them increasingly prone to maintenance issues and performance failures.
BFP officer-in-charge Chief Supt. Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu expressed full backing for the government purchase, noting that upgrading the agency’s resources remains a top concern.
“The BFP supports the DILG in its procurement. Replacing our aging units will help our firefighters do their jobs safely and faster,” Kwan Tiu stated.
Kwan Tiu added that the new vehicles will better address modern firefighting demands. The BFP presently relies on standard 1,000-gallon fire engines backed by 2,500-gallon water tenders.
Under the new guidelines, the agency is coordinating with the DILG to secure trucks equipped with at least a 3,000-liter water tank, a pump capacity of no less than 1,800 liters per minute, a crew cab for six firefighters, and built-in rescue apparatus.
Remulla assured the public that the ministry intends to resolve local vehicle shortages, committing to distribute 1,500 new fire engines over the next 18 months.
“Within one and a half years, all municipalities will be complete, we will no longer have any problems. It will be completed throughout the Philippines,” Remulla said.