MANILA — Officials from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Korea Fire Institute met on Wednesday, October 14, to finalize the terms for procuring 1,500 new fire trucks through a Government-to-Government (G2G) framework with South Korea.
The high-level meeting centered on modernizing the country’s disaster response capabilities by replacing aging units and addressing critical nationwide fleet gaps. Aside from the equipment acquisition, both agencies evaluated comprehensive training programs and future safety collaborations.
BFP officer-in-charge Chief Supt. Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu highlighted the broader significance of the bilateral partnership.
“This meeting represents a shared investment between two nations in public safety, institutional development and the future of the fire service,” Kwan Tiu asserted.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla emphasized that utilizing a G2G arrangement eliminates intermediaries, significantly cuts costs, and roots out corruption.
“This is the cleanest transaction that is possible with the best possible benefit for all Filipinos,” Remulla said.
Data from the BFP shows that out of 3,034 operational fire trucks spanning 1,642 cities and municipalities, roughly 1,115 units—or 36.75 percent—are already over two decades old and increasingly unreliable. To counter this, the upcoming procurement aims to supply municipalities with modern units featuring at least a 3,000-liter tank capacity, a six-person crew cab, and complete rescue tools.
Kwan Tiu noted that the upgrade directly enhances firefighter safety and operational speed, adding, “The BFP supports the DILG in its procurement. Replacing our aging units will help our firefighters do their jobs safely and faster.”
Remulla assured the public that the distribution rollout will happen swiftly, promising that local government units will receive the new assets within the next year and a half.
“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 continued.