Section 3Sec./Art. 3

Strengthening of the Bureau of Fire Protection. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), created under Republic Act No. 6975, otherwise known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, as amended, shall exercise the following powers and functions:

(a) Prevent and suppress all destructive fires on buildings, houses and other structures, including those that occur in economic zones, agro-industrial economic zones, free ports, and special economic zones, Information Technology (IT) parks and centers, tourism economic zones, and other similar entities; forests; land transportation vehicles and equipment; ships or vessels docked at piers or wharves or anchored in major seaports, petroleum industry installations; and airports, in the event of plane crashes and other similar incidents:Provided,That the BFP shall collaborate with various local government units (LGUs) on fire protection services, such as fire prevention and preparedness, response planning, and information sharing, as well as on handling fire management and operational issues;

(b) Respond to natural or man-made disasters and other emergencies, including the conduct of rescue operations, medical emergencies, and containment of hazardous materials (HAZMAT), chemical biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) materials:Provided,That the BFP shall actively coordinate and cooperate with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the LGUs on disaster response, risk reduction and management, in line with Republic Act No, 7160, as amended, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, and Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010;

(c) Issue implementing rules and regulations, and prescribe standards, schedule of fees, fire service charges and administrative penalties, in connection with the enforcement of Republic Act No. 9514, otherwise known as the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 and other related laws;

(d) Require building owners to submit plans and specifications of their respective buildings and other pertinent documents as listed in the BFPs Citizen Charter pursuant to Republic Act No. 11032, otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 and evaluate the same to ensure compliance with Republic Act No. 9514 and other applicable codes and standards. For this purpose, a fire safety evaluation clearance shall be issued as a prerequisite for the issuance of the building permit in accordance with Republic Act No, 11032;

(e) Investigate all causes of fires, and if necessary, file the proper complaints with the city or provincial prosecutor who has jurisdiction over the case;

(f) Maintain regional offices which shall formulate and implement policies, plans and programs of the BFP, with prior consultation from the LGUs and monitor, evaluate and coordinate the operations and activities of the fire service units at the regional levels in coordination with the Central Office;

(g) Establish and maintain fire laboratories and research and testing facilities with complete equipment, one (1) each for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao areas;

(h) Conduct training of its personnel and officers including fire volunteers, fire safety practitioners and fire volunteer organizations, pertaining to fire prevention and suppression, fire inspection and clearance, investigation, disaster preparedness, rescue, emergency medical response, HAZMAT, CBRNE, and other operations:Provided,That the conduct of such training must be in coordination with the LGUs;

(i) Conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in partnership with the LGUs, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Transportation, and economic zones;

(j) Develop, promote, and implement a comprehensive fire safety and protection program that aims to strengthen the capacity of the national government and LGUs, to build the fire resilience of communities, and institutionalize measures for reducing disaster risk, and enhancing disaster and emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The BFP shall also empower existing community-based fire volunteer brigades and encourage the creation of the same in all LGUs;

(k) Enter into contracts, agreements or similar undertaking for the acquisition, ownership, possession, use, administration, lease, disposition, or acceptance of real or personal property in its name;

(l) Request assistance from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), or any government agency or instrumentality, including government-owned and/or controlled corporations and LGUs, in the exercise of its powers and functions, including the use of these agencies personnel and facilities upon approval of the head of the agency concerned; and

(m) Perform such other functions as the President or the Secretary of the DILG may assign.

TITLE III

BFP MODERNIZATION PROGRAM