• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod is supporting the reclassification of the city fire station into a district office for enhanced fire protection services.
Bacolod, being a rapidly developing urban center, is exposed to increasing fire-related hazards in high-density residential, commercial, and industrial areas, making it imperative to upgrade fire service facilities, the resolution, authored by Councilor Psyche Marie “Pao” Sy, and approved by the SP Aug. 20, stressed.
Sy, chairperson of the SP Committee on Fire and Disaster Management, stressed that Bacolod, with a population of around 674,633, and amid continuous urban expansion, requires enhanced fire protection services proportionate to its growth as a highly-urbanized city.
“The protection of lives, properties, and investments in Bacolod is of paramount importance to sustain economic progress and public confidence in local governance,” she added.
The reclassification into the Bacolod City Fire District Office would optimize its structure and ensure the allocation of additional resources for more effective fire prevention, suppression, and emergency response; this is about fostering a safer, more resilient city that can respond effectively to the growing demands of urbanization, the SP said.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod recognizes and supports the conversion/reclassification to ensure that the fire service is equipped to protect lives, property, and the city’s overall development.
The resolution recommending to the Department of the Interior and Local Government the request for reclassification of the Bacolod Fire Station is also consistent with the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan, which stresses enhanced disaster preparedness, resilience, and public safety, in line with Republic Act 10121, of the Philippine DRRM Act of 2010.
The Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2004 and the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 likewise mandate the modernization and strengthening of fire protection services to improve efficiency and coverage, while DILG Memorandum Circular 2016-105 provides the guidelines for converting fire stations into district offices to enhance operational capabilities and service delivery, the SP added. | CGC
