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MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) received another unmodified opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA) for fiscal year 2023 in compliance with Section 43 of the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 1445).

Based on the COA report, BFP got a score of 93 percent, earning an outstanding rating.

READ: COA tells BFP: Cheaper to replace than repair old firetrucks

An unmodified or unqualified opinion is issued when the auditor concludes that the financial statements are prepared in all material respects in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework.

With this, the BFP expects Congress to release an additional budget for its modernization program this year.

The agency has an additional P4.5 billion to buy modern equipment to advance its modernization program for 2024.

Lawmakers previously assured BFP of increased budget for the year 2025.

The COA earlier endorsed the BFP’s initiatives to establish a modernization program that conforms to contemporary standards.

It noted that there was no irregularity in BFP’s efforts to establish the necessary technical requirements needed to modernize its methods and programs in the field of disaster and fire response.

COA’s Financial Management Performance Rating report earlier praised the BFP for its exceptional performance in the 2022 assessment.

The BFP said it is now more important for the public to know about the government’s emergency hotlines after the devastation of typhoons Carina and Enteng, intensified by the southwest monsoon (habagat), which severely damaged many areas in Metro Manila and Luzon regions.

BFP chief director Louie Puracan said because of the modernization program that included more equipment, the BFP has been able to cope with challenges in disaster response.

The COA report said the total funds allocated for the BFP modernization program from 2011 to 2017 reached PHP13.17 billion.