The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to implement stricter rules and guidelines for the accreditation of volunteer firefighters and fire truck drivers.
The order came after an incident on August 14, where a fire truck allegedly hit nine people in Tondo, Manila, resulting in the killing of a 62-year-old woman and eight others being injured.
Abalos highlighted the need to review the present volunteer fire brigade guidelines for accreditation, specifically ensuring fire truck drivers are qualified to operate a fire truck, particularly in dangerous situations, by conducting drug tests and neuropsychiatric evaluations.
"If it is possible, dapat may seminar at exams sa emergency driving. Ang importante ay i-review nang maayos ang present guidelines,’’ the DILG Secretary noted.
He added that the BFP should ensure that the fire trucks of volunteer fire brigades are mechanically safe, sound, and suitable for operation.
According to Abalos, the bureau should also consistently require fire brigades to undergo training in fire prevention and suppression and other related skills.
The DILG chief sympathizes with the family of the victim who died in the incident and asks the concerned volunteer fire brigade association to extend appropriate assistance to those injured.
Meanwhile, the driver of the responding fire truck in the Tondo incident was identified as Rodolfo Pineda, 27, who is currently under police custody and is facing charges of Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Homicide, Physical Injuries, and Damage to Property.
