CoA: 308 towns without fire stations, 59 without fire trucks
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2019 09:42:13 +0000
Notwithstanding an increase in fire incidence in the past eight years, the Bureau of Fire Protection remained remiss in its task of accomplishing the goals of its modernization program within the timelines, the Commission on Audit has revealed.
In its performance audit of the BFP conducted last year, CoA reported last week that a total 308 of the country’s municipalities do not have fire stations.
On the other hand, 59 fire stations do not have fire trucks.
“The BFP is not on track in accomplishing the Modernization Program’s goals and objectives within its timelines,” said CoA in the report released early this week.
The performance audit conducted by a team of CoA audit examiners indicated that the BFP was only able to complete 263 out of its 945 fire stations as of June 30, 2018. Construction of 44 fire headquarters remained on-going but the rest have not been started yet.
On the purchase of new firetrucks, the BFP has so far procured 621 units, but still short by 436 out of the targeted 1,057 trucks.
Making matters worse is the wide discrepancy in the prices of each units as canvassed by the BFP and the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Based on a 2011 canvass, the BFP said a 1,500 gallon fire struck cost P12.44 million while the smaller 1,000-gallon trucks was pegged at P11.98 million.
The DILG submitted a price per unit of P7.51 million and P7.24 million, respectively, indicating overpricing
in the BFP cost.
“If there is delay in procurement there is also delay in the delivery of fire trucks,” the audit findings stated.
The audit team noted that among the reasons for the BFP’s failure to attain its target accomplishments is the low funding release.
“Total fund allocated (by government) is P13.17 billion but this is only 22 percent of the total funding requirement of P60.29 billion,” the CoA audit team revealed.
The auditors added: “As a result only 416 out of 945 firestations and 597 out of 1,057 fire trucks were funded by the government.”
Also blamed for BFP’s failure is the fact that it does not have a “functioning bids and awards committee.” (Ben R. Rosario)