BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Four brand-new rescue boats have been turned over to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod City, strengthening the city’s ability to respond to flooding and other water-related emergencies as the rainy season continues.
The six- to eight-passenger boats were procured by the Bacolod City Government using its 20-percent share from Fire Code fees, according to a report released by the Philippine News Agency on September 4, 2026.
Bacolod City Fire Marshal Supt. Jenny Mae Masip said the arrival of the equipment comes at an important time because emergency responders are facing the continuing challenges associated with heavy rains, flooding and other water-related incidents.
The new boats are expected to improve the city’s capacity to rescue residents, evacuate people from flooded communities and reach areas that may become inaccessible to conventional emergency vehicles.
“More than just equipment, these boats represent readiness, preparedness and a commitment to save lives,” Masip said, emphasizing that the investment is ultimately about protecting residents.
Why the new boats matter
Flooding can quickly turn roads and low-lying communities into areas accessible only by water. For emergency responders, having dedicated rescue boats can reduce the need to rely on improvised transportation when residents need to be evacuated.
The BFP-Bacolod has already been building its broader emergency-response capabilities. A 2025 report by Negros Now Daily said the Bacolod City Fire Station had nine substations, a central station, 13 fire trucks, four ambulances and a rescue truck at the time. The city’s fire leadership has also sought to upgrade the station into a Fire District, which would allow for additional specialized capabilities, including technical rescue teams.
The city government has also previously provided other emergency equipment to the BFP. In an official city government report, Bacolod said it turned over 100 new fire hoses worth P1.049 million to the Bacolod City Fire Station, funded through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Where the money came from
The rescue boats were funded through the city’s 20-percent share of Fire Code fees.
Under the Revised Fire Code framework, 20 percent of the taxes, fees and fines collected under the Fire Code is set aside for the concerned city or municipality for the operation and maintenance of its local fire station, while the remaining 80 percent is intended for the modernization of the BFP.
The use of these funds has been a longstanding issue nationally. In 2022, The Philippine Star reported congressional concerns that some LGUs had not received their expected share of BFP-collected Fire Code fees. The report said P300 million out of P2.5 billion in 2021 collections had not been remitted to concerned LGUs at that time.
The funding mechanism therefore has a practical significance beyond accounting: when properly made available and appropriated, the LGU share can be used to strengthen local fire and emergency-response capabilities.
Bacolod’s push for stronger disaster readiness
The latest equipment acquisition comes as Bacolod continues to expand its preparedness efforts.
Earlier, the city government and BFP also promoted community-based emergency response through Community Fire Auxiliary Groups (CFAGs). PNA reported that only 16 of Bacolod’s 61 barangays had CFAGs at the time, with the city continuing efforts to train additional communities.
That community-level approach, combined with additional rescue equipment, gives first responders more tools to deal with emergencies before and during disasters.
The importance of such preparation has been demonstrated in previous major flooding events in Negros Occidental. During the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Goring in 2023, PNA reported that more than 100,000 people in Negros Occidental were affected by flooding and rains, with thousands temporarily staying in evacuation centers.
More than boats, it’s about response time
For residents in flood-prone communities, the significance of the four vessels goes beyond the equipment itself.
When floodwaters rise rapidly, time becomes critical. Rescue boats can allow responders to move through flooded streets and waterways, transport residents to safer locations and support evacuation operations when land routes become difficult or impossible to use.
The BFP-Bacolod described the procurement as a way of transforming fire-safety resources into life-saving capabilities for the community.
And with the rainy season continuing, the question is no longer simply whether Bacolod has additional rescue equipment.
The bigger test will be how quickly and effectively those new capabilities can be deployed when the next major flood emergency strikes.
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