Bureau of Fire Protection Deputy Chief for Operations, Chief Supt. Jose Embang Jr., says the BFP will start to equip firefighters with anti-terrorism skills to be ready to respond to calamities brought about by weapons of mass destruction. (Photo courtesy of Redgie Cawis/PIA-CAR)
BAGUIO CITY -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is gearing to make its firefighters capable of helping during anti-terrorism activities, an official said on Tuesday.
"We are not just traditional firefighters, we are also into anti-terrorism,” Chief Supt. Jose Embang Jr., BFP deputy chief for operations, said during the 45th Fire Service Recognition Day.
He said the BFP will start providing capacity training on anti-terrorism for its personnel.
“The BFP is one of the main recipients of training from the US (United States), European Union and we have projects as well as support equipment that would make our people knowledgeable on anti-terrorism,” Embang said.
He said BFP is also a member of the Anti-Terrorism Council and the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, which are concerned with the development of strategies to help respond to weapons of mass destruction threats.
"We are looking into promoting and capacitating our BFP personnel to continue to broaden their expertise particularly in the field of anti-terrorism to ensure readiness," he said.
"It's not just about guns and bullets nowadays but terrorists are now into biochemical which are chemicals being dispersed to civilians that may lead to death," he added.
He noted that like the Armed Forces of the Philippine and the Philippine National Police, BFP personnel are also expected to safeguard civilians from hazardous materials used by terrorists like weapons of mass destruction.
"This will be a big challenge for us. The threat now is different, I will reiterate war is not about guns and bullets anymore. It is more on hazardous materials," he said.
Meanwhile, Embang said the Cordillera will receive fire trucks, personal protective equipment and rescue operations' equipment as part of BFP's modernization program.
He said considering the terrain of the region, the fire trucks will be different from those issued to the other areas in the country. (PNA)
