ODIONGAN, Romblon — The remaining three towns in Romblon will be given fire trucks by the end of this year, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.
In an interview by Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Romblon on Thursday, July 18, Abalos said that only three towns in the province currently lack fire trucks for emergency use, especially in case of fires.
“Dadating na po ang fire trucks, I think it’s August or September, and they are one of the recipients,” said Abalos. (The fire trucks are arriving, I think in August or September, and they are one of the recipients.)
When President Marcos assumed office, he had an instruction to find a way to provide fire trucks to municipalities across the country that do not have them yet, he said.
Aside from the fire trucks, Abalos is hopeful that all the local government units (LGUs) in Romblon will have Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-standard fire station buildings by the end of 2024.
Abalos mentioned that the annual P1 billion allocated for the BFP modernization is insufficient to meet the needs, hence, he convinced the Department of Budget Management and House Speaker Martin Romualdez to allocate additional funds to acquire the necessary equipment and infrastructure.
Abalos, along with Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., led the distribution of Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF) to 3,000 farmers and fishermen on behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who could not attend the activity in the province due to inclement weather. (PJF/PIA MIMAROPA-Romblon)
