More firetrucks for Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City will get more firefighting equipment, including firetrucks, from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) starting next year.

DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno assured Mayor Herbert Bautista and QC firemen during the city’s commemoration of the 115th death anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal yesterday.

Puno said the DILG intends to buy more firetrucks and other firefighting equipment next year under a program that focuses more on fire prevention than on fire suppression. He said that the firetrucks will be much cheaper than those acquired before 2010.

He also announced that the DILG wants to build a hospital for fire personnel and police officers, and is finalizing plans for an arrangement with the city government to boost the department’s fire prevention efforts and provide more firefighting equipment to the city.