Expedite Malay town fire station construction

Special rescue unit response and emergency capability demonstration of BFP Malay / photo Malay BFP

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL 

The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay wants the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to construct the proposed fire station in mainland Malay for the next three years.

The municipal government is donating around 400 square meters vacant lot in Barangay Caticlan.

Town councilor Jupiter Aelred Gallenero said ‘three years is enough for BFP to process the donation and construction of the fire station building.”

A fire station in the first-class municipality will enable the fire fighters and volunteers to respond immediately to fire incidents in urban areas in mainland Malay. 

Gallenero said the BFP officials appealed to the municipal government during the committee hearing last week for a longer time to process a new deed of donation for a parcel of land and fire station construction. 

A year ago, the legislative council has endorsed a resolution where the local government unit will only provide the lot as its counterpart and the national government through the BFP will allocate funds, personnel and fire trucks. 

SB member Floribar Bautista also urged the BFP to expedite the construction of building located in the commercial area.

“We will develop the land to other purposes if there is no construction of fire building in the next two or three years,” he added.   

Currently, BFP has a fire sub-station in Boracay Island in Barangay Manoc-Manoc under the leadership of Municipal Fire Marshall Senior Fire Inspector Lorna Parcellano. 

In Aklan province alone, the towns of Kalibo, New Washington, Balete, Altavas, Libacao, Numancia, Tangalan, Ibajay and Buruanga have fire stations.

The fire stations in Malinao, Makato and Madalag are now undergoing construction. Four towns without fire stations are Lezo, Batan, Nabas and Banga. 

Under the law, the BFP is required to construct a fire station with adequate firefighting equipment and facilities and personnel in every municipality or city.