LUNA, Apayao – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Apayao outlined its accomplishments for the first semester of 2025 during the Joint Meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) held on June 16 at the Apayao Tourism and Sports Complex (ATSC) Clubhouse in Luna.
SFO1 Wilfred C. Duldulao, representing the Office of the Provincial Fire Marshal, reported a 1.77% dip in fire safety inspections from January to June 2025, citing business closures and temporary suspensions as factors.
Despite the decline in inspections, the bureau recorded ₱2.23 million in Fire Code collections, a 3.19% increase compared to ₱2.09 million during the same period last year. The rise was attributed to a surge in permit applications from new buildings in the province.
Fire stations have been activated in all seven municipalities. While six towns operate their own stations, Calanasan remains without a permanent facility. Construction of the Luna Fire Station is currently ongoing.
The agency’s current fleet includes one service vehicle, nine fire trucks, and two ambulances. In the first half of the year, two fire incidents were investigated, with reported damages totaling ₱201,250.
BFP Apayao responded to ten emergency incidents, two fire cases, four rescue calls, three vehicular accidents, and one medical-related situation. The bureau also conducted 231 activities related to fire prevention and emergency response, including 14 simulation exercises, 156 standby assignments, 25 lectures, and 27 IEC sessions.
The bureau remained visible in local activities such as the Luna Fire Station groundbreaking, a Color Fun Run during Fire Prevention Month, the Oplan Semana Santa Lakbay Alalay, and election-related first aid coverage. They also organized the “Buckets with Love” outreach and received a new fire truck for Luna.
Looking ahead, BFP Apayao is seeking to boost its mobility and response time by acquiring additional service vehicles to support rescue efforts and frontline operations. By Loremia Pareja
