Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 4)— The Senate on Wednesday approved the bicameral conference committee report on the bill that seeks to modernize or strengthen the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
The report hurdled the upper chamber after a 14-4 vote with two abstentions.
In June, the Senate voted to reject the bicam version of the BFP modernization bill due to disagreements over a provision allowing some firefighters to carry firearms.
A number of senators earlier rejected the provision, saying arming firemen was unnecessary.
Under the final version of the bill that will be sent to President Rodrigo Duterte, there will be a security and protection unit for each of the 17 regional offices and 146 city fire stations of the BFP.
Each unit shall be composed of 14 personnel who will be provided with the equipment necessary to secure fire suppression operations, including firearms.
This will result in the arming of 2,282 firefighters.
Senator Bato Dela Rosa, who sponsored the measure in the plenary, estimated that nearly ₱80 million will be needed to purchase the guns.
“It was spread in the records, during our deliberation, that we specified that it’s only short firearms…for security purposes,” Dela Rosa said during the session.
The BFP modernization bill seeks to expand the powers and functions of the bureau, and establish regional fire laboratories and research and testing facilities, among others.
This is a developing story.
CNN Philippines Correspondent Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
