MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the release of P199 million to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for the procurement of 33 fire trucks.
Among the municipalities that will get one fire truck each include Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
This release is part of the P22.47 billion supplemental budget passed last December.
“These fire trucks are the final element needed to complement the recently-constructed fire stations in the ARMM municipalities. That’s why we need to guarantee budgetary support for agencies like the BFP whose main task is to ensure public order and safety. With the help of these agencies, we’ll be able to establish an environment of social stability in areas that need it so that inclusive development can thrive and grow,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.
Each of the 33 recently-constructed ARMM fire stations will receive one water tank pumper truck, which has a capacity of 3,800 liters. These fire stations are located throughout the five ARMM provinces – Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi – and their construction was completed in 2013.
“It’s important to reiterate that we were able to fund priority projects like these fire trucks with the help of the 2014 Supplementary Budget, which was finalized late last year. What’s more, this release will help promote public order and safety even as it provides important services in areas made vulnerable by violence,” Abad said.
Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
The 2014 supplemental budget also covers the construction of fishports, lighthouses, and seawalls by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, the implementation of the North Triangle Relocation Plan, and the Operational Transformation Plan of the Philippine National Police.
Aside from being part of the ARMM Transition Investment Support Plan (TISP), the amount of P199 million also supplements the BFP’s P8-billion budget in the FY 2015 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
