BY JEN BAYLON
ILOILO City – The city government’s ongoing struggle to secure essential firefighting equipment from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has been marked by unmet requests, leaving the city’s high-rise buildings vulnerable in the event of fire.
In 2019, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas, he asked the BFP to equip local firefighters with specialized apparatus for high-rise emergencies, but the response from the BFP central office has been wanting.
The BFP cited procurement challenges.
This failure to act got highlighted by last Saturday’s (Nov. 4) fire at a high-rise building under construction at the Iloilo Business Part in Mandurriao district.
Treñas again made a request, this time to Secretary Benjamin Abalos of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
He said the acquisition of equipment, such as high-reaching ladders and advanced fire suppression gear, is vital for enhancing the capabilities of Iloilo’s firefighters and improving the city’s readiness to handle fire emergencies.
Treñas warned that BFP’s failure to address these urgent requests not only compromises the safety of the city’s residents but also places additional risks on the firefighters.
THE SATURDAY FIRE
Fire broke out early evening of Saturday, Nov. 4, on the 11th floor of a building under construction at the Iloilo Business Park, resulting in an estimated P510,000 worth of damage, the BFP-Iloilo City reported.
Fire Officer 2 John Paquito Verano said approximately 255 square meters — or about 25 percent of the total floor area — were affected.
He advised the site engineer to submit a detailed affidavit of loss, which will aid in the ongoing investigation of the blaze.
Fire Superintendent Melanie Habawel said it took four grueling hours for the authorities to declare the fire “under control.”
The incident escalated to a “fourth alarm” status, necessitating the deployment of 16 fire trucks.
Habawel said the building’s safety officer confirmed that the affected level of the Enterprise One building was being used as a temporary storage area. Investigators found seven cigarette butts amidst construction materials such as pipes, paint, thinner, and butane.
The building, intended to house business process outsourcing companies, was 80 percent complete at the time of the fire./PN
