COA OKs fire bureau’s modernization plan

By Jun David

A COMMISSION on Audit (COA) report gave a favorable response to the action of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) on its modernization program.

According to the COA report, there is nothing wrong with the action taken by the BFP in placing the technical requirements that the bureau needs to keep up with modern times.

The COA report further stated that in 2010, the BFP launched its modernization program following the government’s Comprehensive Fire Code of 2008.

The main goal of the modernization program is for the bureau to upgrade its firefighting capability with adequate personnel and adequate firefighting equipment.

The COA report further noted that the total funds of the BFP modernization program amounted to P13.17 billion from the year 2011 to 2017.

In 2019, Senator Bong Go filed a bill in the Senate requiring the BFP to implement the modernization program which includes the purchase of modern fire equipment, hire additional personnel, and conduct specialized training programs.

The COA report also said that there was no mistake in the technical requirements in the modernization program because it is in line with the COA’s performance audit of the BFP.

A probe conducted by Congress did not find anything wrong with what the BFP modernization based the technical requirements stated in the COA.

The COA further said that the main objective of the audit report is to identify the gap between the programs target and the achievement of the BFP in order to assess it.

The COA also believes that the government should strengthen its fire suppression campaign in conjunction with its ongoing modernization program.

for termination.

Among the reasons were the delay included incomplete preliminary engineering studies, obstructions by electric and telecommunication poles, absence of construction workers and equipment, projects abandoned by the contractor, and natural calamities.

“Except for the COVID-19 pandemic and adverse weather conditions, the other identified causes of the delay in the implementation of infrastructure projects reflect the inadequacy of planning, supervision, and monitoring of Management relative to the project implementation,” the report read.