ILOILO — Nearly half of Iloilo Province’s fire trucks are either broken down or undergoing repairs, prompting Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. to explore provincial funding assistance for affected local government units (LGUs) while seeking additional support from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
An inventory submitted by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Iloilo Chapter showed that as of March 18, 2026, only 41 of the province’s 77 fire trucks are operational, while 15 are already dilapidated and 22 are under repair, leaving 11 municipalities without a functional fire truck.
The affected municipalities are Tubungan, Leon, Badiangan, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Anilao, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Carles, Lemery, and San Dionisio.
The situation has prompted the provincial government to study possible financial assistance to help municipalities acquire replacement fire trucks.
“Ang fire trucks really need addition. Sang una, may mga banwa pa kita waay sang fire stations and fire trucks pero kumpleto na kita subong, except ang fire trucks sang una nagdaan na kag kinahanglan nga islan,” Defensor said.
The governor said the provincial government is exploring the use of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) fund and the Peace and Order Fund to assist LGUs in purchasing new firefighting equipment.
“I don’t know if we have enough fund but we will try kung ano ang makabulig dira,” he said.
Based on the inventory, the province’s 41 operational fire trucks are distributed across the five congressional districts, with some municipalities maintaining two or more units while others have only one.
Meanwhile, the 15 dilapidated units are located in Bingawan (two), and one each in Oton, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Zarraga, Cabatuan, Calinog, Dingle, Dumangas, Barotac Viejo, Batad, San Dionisio, and Sara.
The 22 fire trucks undergoing repairs are assigned to Badiangan and Barotac Nuevo (with two units each), and Guimbal, Miag-ao, Tigbauan, Tubungan, Leganes, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Mina, Dueñas, Dumangas, Anilao, Ajuy, Balasan, Barotac Viejo, Carles, and Lemery (one unit each under repair).
Apart from exploring provincial funding, Defensor said he plans to personally meet DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla to formally request additional fire trucks for Iloilo Province.
According to the governor, he has long wanted to discuss the matter with the DILG chief but was delayed by other commitments.
Defensor said he personally ordered the LMP-Iloilo Chapter to consolidate data on the province’s fire truck inventory after recognizing the growing shortage of operational firefighting equipment across Iloilo./PN