The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) national office has allocated a P35-million budget for the construction of standard fire stations in five Bohol towns.

Fire Sr. Insp. Raul Bustaliño, chief of the BFP-Bohol operations division, told dyRD Balita that the fire stations will be built in the towns of Dauis, Valencia, Pilar, Cortes and Pres. Carlos P. Garcia.

Each of the towns’ stations will have an equal allocation of P7 million each.

Based on BFP data, there are 11 other towns in the province which do not have standard fire stations including San Isidro, Dagohoy, Danao, Lila, Duero, Guindulman, Loboc, Cortes, Corella, Getafe, and San Miguel.

The fire official suggested that local government units should start looking for properties which can be used as space for the fire stations and also the allocation for the site’s budget.

Bustaliño who is also the fire chief of Panglao said that having a fire station in each town would hasten the response of firefighters in emergency cases.

“Dako man gud og tabang kung ang lungsod duna g’yuy fire station ilabina ang mga lugar nga daghang tawo, balay ug establisamento, ilabina diri sa Panglao nga nagkalambo kay dali naman makarespondi sa mga sunog. Dili na pud magsalig sa laing lungsod,” said Bustaliño.

According to Bustaliño, he also intends to propose the construction of two fire substations in Panglao, particularly in the village of Tawala and near the New Panglao Bohol Airport.

He noted that the town needs more stations due to the slew of establishments including hotels and resorts located in the island. (Rey Tutas)