Senate, House ratify bill modernizing BFP, arming of firemen

The Senate and the House of Representatives have ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed measure institutionalizing the modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection and arming fire personnel.

During its respective sessions, the chambers each adopted the bicameral report for Senate Bill 1832 and House Bill 7406, or the proposed "Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act."

The Senate on Wednesday approved the bicam report following a nominal voting after several senators expressed reservations on the provision allowing firefighters to carry firearms during fire emergency situations.

"We included in the bill the specific number of BFP personnel for SPU (security and protection unit) in order to limit the authority of the BFP on the issuance of firearms," Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, chairman of the conferees on the Senate, said in his speech.

"With this amendment, the Senate panel through Senator (Risa) Hontiveros further amended the provision to ensure that those who will be appointed in the SPU will be well trained to handle firearms," he added.

Under Section 4 (D), the SPU shall be provided with appropriate equipment to protect firefighters during fire suppression, containment of HAZMAT and CBRNE materials, fire investigation, and in the performance of all other acts pertinent to their mandate.

Arming some BFP personnel is part of the BFP Modernization Program, which is geared towards the development of the capabilities of fire personnel as well as the acquisition of state-of-the-art fire prevention, fire suppression, fire investigation, and emergency medical and rescue services facilities and equipment.

The senator said all SPU members would be required to undergo neuropsychological examination before their appointment to the unit as well as some periodic training.

Fourteen senators voted for the ratification of the bicam report, four lawmakers voted in negative while two senators abstained.

Those who voted “no” for the ratification of the BFP Modernization bill are Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Francis Pangilinan and Nancy Binay.

Those who abstained are Senators Risa Hontiveros and Aquilino Pimentel III.

The BFP Modernization bill is among the priority measures mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte in his sixth and last State of the Nation Address.

In June, the bill modernizing the BFP was sent back to the bicameral conference committee after the senators rejected the provision which allowed the firefighters to carry firearms during fire emergency situations. 

"We included in the bill the specific number of BFP personnel for SPU (security and protection unit) in order to limit the authority of the BFP on the issuance of firearms," said Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, the chairman of the Senate contingent to the bicameral panel. 

"With this amendment, the Senate panel through Senator (Risa) Hontiveros further amended the provision to ensure that those who will be appointed in the SPU will be well trained to handle firearms," he added.

The senator said all SPU members would be required to undergo neuropsychological examination before their appointment to the unit as well as some periodic training. —NB, GMA News