Bureau of Fire Protection launches command and operation center

August 8, 2017

The Bureau of Fire Protection - National Capital Region launched the first Fire Command and Operations Center for Metro Manila on Tuesday.

The BFP-NCR opened the center at Brgy. Pinagkaisahan, Quezon City. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce Industry donated P 3 million.

Senior Superintendent Wilbert Kwan Tiu, BFP  regional director of Davao and former regional director of BFP-NCR, said the command center has a direct link of around 250 CCTV camera of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority that will operate for 24 hours a day.

"This is the first of its kind in the history of the BFP," said Tiu.

He said there are 10 computer sets, 10 monitors, nine radios, one camera drone  and four sets of TV that can monitor weather forecast, response time and firetruck location.

"With this we can direct firetrucks to use other ways because we can see which area has a heavy traffic ", he said.

He said the equipment in the center are industrial grade monitors that can last up to five to seven years without shutting down.

"We can now have an intercooperabillity which is very ideal in every situation especially in complex situation", Tiu said.

Tiu said with the use of the command and operations center the responding time can be reduced into five minutes from  seven minutes.

He said the center has a communication facility  which can relay and receive information from Armed Forces of the Philippines, Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippines, Philippine National Police, Volunteer of Fire Brigade and local government units.

Tiu said he will put up a smaller version of the BFP-NCR Fire Command and Operations Center in Davao since he is the BFP regional director .

The Philippines experienced more than 5,000 fires in the year 2016, he said. Alanna Ambi/DMS