Three new fire trucks were formally turned over on Monday to the province of Ilocos Norte to boost its disaster preparedness, particularly during fire incidents.

Worth PHP12.79 million each, the fire trucks will be given to the Bureau of Fire Protection based in the municipalities of San Nicolas, Dingras, and Marcos.

In an interview Monday, Ilocos Norte provincial fire director Roxanne Parado said Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc made an earlier request to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to replace the old and dilapidated fire trucks in the province.

“Through these new fire trucks, our firemen will be more equipped when responding to fire incidents,” she said.

Parado said the three recipients have existing fire trucks but these are 39 years in service already.

The new fire trucks passed international standards and these are comparable to the modern firetrucks being used by firefighters in Japan and the United States, she added.

During the dry run and testing in front of the capitol, the water from the fire trucks can reach as high as a 12-story building.

More fire trucks of this kind are expected to be delivered in the province to serve other BFP stations that need it most.

The ideal fire truck to population ratio is one for every 28,000 residents.

In support of the BFP’s modernization program, the DILG has set aside PHP3.4 billion last year for the purchase of new fire trucks, aside from building new fire stations and procurement of high-quality firefighting equipment. (PNA)