BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FIRE SERVICE:

The history of MFD started on August 7, 1901 when the United States –
Philippine Commission organized then the Manila Fire Department,
merely as part of the Department of Streets, Park, Fire and Sanitation.
However, the present organization came into existence when it was
separated from the former department. All equipment and apparatus
relating to this distinct unit were turned over of F.R. Dodge as the
appointed Department Chief and J.W. Hoey as his Assistant. After the
resignation of F.R Dodge in the same year, Hugh Bonner, former Chief of
New York City Fire Department was appointed Fire Chief on December
28, 1901 but he actually assumed office on April 25, 1902 with Capt.
Hoey still as Deputy’ Chief. During his absence, Deputy Chief Hoey
assumed the position of Fire Chief.

At the time of Chief Bonner, the City’s fire fighting force consisted of
only 80 men and four Fire Stations namely: Tanduay, Sta. Cruz, Paco
and Intramuros Fire Stations. The Department has four (4) engine
companies and one (1) hook-and-ladder company. The early means of
receiving fire alarm was through the telephone system, and in July
1902, the 80 boxes Gamewell Fire Alarm System was established. The
5th fire station at San Nicolas, Binondo, Manila was constructed during
Bonner’s term. Upon Chief Bonner’s resignation in 1907, he was
succeed by Capt. Lewis Dingman and during his administration, Tondo
and San Lazaro Fire Stations were constructed. It was also during this
time that the steam fire engine and motor fire apparatus were
introduced in the Department, replacing the out-moded horse-drawn
fire apparatus. When Chief Dingman resigned in 1919, Capt. Otis
Vanderford succeeded him. He was credited for the construction of
Sta. Mesa Fire Station thus making eight the total number of fire
stations in the city until the outbreak of war. He resigned on October
18, 1935, a month before the inauguration of the Philippine
Commonwealth Republic. He was the last American Fire Chief who
served the Manila Fire Department.

On October 19, 1935, Deputy Chief Jacinto Lorenzo became the first
Filipino Fire Chief of Manila Fire Department. He was responsible for
reduction of duty schedule of the members of the uniformed force
division from the period of four (4) days straight service with 7-hour
day-off and 15 hours night-off 48 hours duty and 24 hours off-duty. By
1944, he was succeeded by Deputy Chief Cipriano Cruz whose
administration bore the brunt of the brutal years of Japanese
conquest. It is very interesting to note that the darkest moment in the
history of Manila Fire Department was during this brutal years of
Japanese invasion. As the Japanese occupation was about to come to
a close, simultaneous raids were conducted one night by the dreaded
kempetai or the Japanese military police on all fire stations. Fifty three
(53) firemen suspected of supporting the guerilla movement were
rounded up. Nobody among them returned despite the strong
representation by then Mayor Leon Guinto with the Japanese Imperial
Army. To this day, their deaths are still shrouded with mystery.

Upon the liberation of the city, the Manila Fire Department was,
literally speaking, another debris of war. The U.S. Army had to supply it
with trucks, hose another equipment to put it back on its feet. During
the tenure of Chief Cruz, four (4) more fire stations were established
for the department namely: Gagalangin, Sta. Ana, Arroceros and
Sampaloc Fire Stations. On April 21, 1956, he retired from service and
was succeeded by Deputy Chief Eulogio Samio who paved the way for
the rehabilitation and reconstruction of fire stations, the construction
of a modern edifice that houses the Manila Fire Department Central
Fire Station at the site of Sta. Cruz Fire Station as well as the
acquisition of modern fire fighting equipment and apparatus, and for
the first time in its history, Manila acquired two (2) fire boats in 1965.
Chief Samio was also responsible for the increase of salary of the fire
fighters and non-uniformed force and the reduction of working hours to
24 hours duty and 24 hours off. Upon his retirement on January 21,
1966, Deputy Chief Jesus Cruz took over his post and headed the
Department up to December 30, 1966. On December 31, 1966, Capt.
Domingo Reyes was designated by Mayor Villegas as Officer-in-Charge
up to March 30, 1967, Capt. Federico Garcia was appointed by
President Marcos as Chief of Manila Fire department. On March 21,
1974, some three years after the declaration of Police and jail services
of the National Capital Region into one unit then known was the
Metropolitan Police Force under the nucleus of Philippine Constabulary
and was headed by the Commanding General of the Philippine
Constabulary, Metropolitan Command. The Manila Fire Department was
since then called Fire District I, National Capital Region. Several
District Superintendents assumed the leadership of Manila Fire District
Command with the likes of Brig. Gen. Reyes, who was twice extended
to his post by Pres. Marcos and led the Manila Fire Services from July
1, 1980 to December 17, 1985. After his death of the same year, Col.
Rodolfo S. Villavicencio took over his post and led the District
Command up to 1987.

As history unfolds, fire stations all over the country were established.
Laws were promulgated for the enhancement of the fire service. On
August 8, 1975 Presidential Decree (PD) 765 was enacted by then
President Marcos thereby constituting the Integrated National Police
(INP). It provided for the integration of all city and municipal police and
fire departments and jails into the INP. These integrated forces were
placed under the operational control of the Philippine Constabulary.

The Integrated National Police was therefore established and made

responsible for public safety, protection of lives and properties,
enforcement of laws and maintenance of peace and order within the
territorial limits of the Philippines. It had the power to prevent crimes,
effects and arrest of criminal offenders and provide for their detention
and rehabilitation. It took necessary measures to prevent and control
fires, investigate the commission of all crimes and offenses and bring
the offenders to justice, all the while to take every necessary step to
insure public safety.

The Philippine Constabulary as a major service of the Armed Forces of

the Philippines with law enforcement functions, served as nucleus of
the Integrated national Police.

The power of the administrative supervision and control by the city

and municipal governments over their respective local police, jail and
fire department was transferred to the Chief of Constabulary as
Director-General of the Integrated National Police.

Thus, the police fire and jail services were unified into a single
organization and the responsibility of training INP personnel was
transferred to the Integrated national Police Training Command
including the 13 regional training centers throughout the country as
mandated by Presidential Decree (PD) 765.

On December 13, 1990, Republic Act (RA) 6975 otherwise known as the
DILG Act of 1990 was finally enacted thereby creating the now Bureau
of Fire Protection and its present organization under the umbrella of
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
On June 24, 2004, congress enacted R.A. 9263 otherwise known as the
BFP Professionalization Act of 2004 which has professionalized and
upgraded the qualification standards of appointment in the Bureau of
Fire Protection.

On May 8, 2009, President Gloria M. Arroyo signed into law, R.A. 9592
entitled an “Act extending the 5 years reglementary period for
complying the minimum education qualification and appropriation
eligibility in the appointment of the BFP.
On October 19, 1935, Deputy Chief Jacinto Lorenzo became the first
Filipino Fire Chief of Manila Fire Department. He was responsible for
reduction of duty schedule of the members of the uniformed force
division from the period of four (4) days straight service with 7-hour
day-off and 15 hours night-off 48 hours duty and 24 hours off-duty. By
1944, he was succeeded by Deputy Chief Cipriano Cruz whose
administration bore the brunt of the brutal years of Japanese
conquest. It is very interesting to note that the darkest moment in the
history of Manila Fire Department was during this brutal years of
Japanese invasion. As the Japanese occupation was about to come to
a close, simultaneous raids were conducted one night by the dreaded
kempetai or the Japanese military police on all fire stations. Fifty three
(53) firemen suspected of supporting the guerilla movement were
rounded up. Nobody among them returned despite the strong
representation by then Mayor Leon Guinto with the Japanese Imperial
Army. To this day, their deaths are still shrouded with mystery.

Upon the liberation of the city, the Manila Fire Department was,
literally speaking, another debris of war. The U.S. Army had to supply it
with trucks, hose another equipment to put it back on its feet. During
the tenure of Chief Cruz, four (4) more fire stations were established
for the department namely: Gagalangin, Sta. Ana, Arroceros and
Sampaloc Fire Stations. On April 21, 1956, he retired from service and
was succeeded by Deputy Chief Eulogio Samio who paved the way for
the rehabilitation and reconstruction of fire stations, the construction
of a modern edifice that houses the Manila Fire Department Central
Fire Station at the site of Sta. Cruz Fire Station as well as the
acquisition of modern fire fighting equipment and apparatus, and for
the first time in its history, Manila acquired two (2) fire boats in 1965.
Chief Samio was also responsible for the increase of salary of the fire
fighters and non-uniformed force and the reduction of working hours to
24 hours duty and 24 hours off. Upon his retirement on January 21,
1966, Deputy Chief Jesus Cruz took over his post and headed the
Department up to December 30, 1966. On December 31, 1966, Capt.
Domingo Reyes was designated by Mayor Villegas as Officer-in-Charge
up to March 30, 1967, Capt. Federico Garcia was appointed by
President Marcos as Chief of Manila Fire department. On March 21,
1974, some three years after the declaration of Police and jail services
of the National Capital Region into one unit then known was the
Metropolitan Police Force under the nucleus of Philippine Constabulary
and was headed by the Commanding General of the Philippine
Constabulary, Metropolitan Command. The Manila Fire Department was
since then called Fire District I, National Capital Region. Several
District Superintendents assumed the leadership of Manila Fire District
Command with the likes of Brig. Gen. Reyes, who was twice extended
to his post by Pres. Marcos and led the Manila Fire Services from July
1, 1980 to December 17, 1985. After his death of the same year, Col.
Rodolfo S. Villavicencio took over his post and led the District
Command up to 1987.

As history unfolds, fire stations all over the country were established.
Laws were promulgated for the enhancement of the fire service. On
August 8, 1975 Presidential Decree (PD) 765 was enacted by then
President Marcos thereby constituting the Integrated National Police
(INP). It provided for the integration of all city and municipal police and
fire departments and jails into the INP. These integrated forces were
placed under the operational control of the Philippine Constabulary.

The Integrated National Police was therefore established and made

responsible for public safety, protection of lives and properties,
enforcement of laws and maintenance of peace and order within the
territorial limits of the Philippines. It had the power to prevent crimes,
effects and arrest of criminal offenders and provide for their detention
and rehabilitation. It took necessary measures to prevent and control
fires, investigate the commission of all crimes and offenses and bring
the offenders to justice, all the while to take every necessary step to
insure public safety.

The Philippine Constabulary as a major service of the Armed Forces of

the Philippines with law enforcement functions, served as nucleus of
the Integrated national Police.
The power of the administrative supervision and control by the city
and municipal governments over their respective local police, jail and
fire department was transferred to the Chief of Constabulary as
Director-General of the Integrated National Police.

Thus, the police fire and jail services were unified into a single
organization and the responsibility of training INP personnel was
transferred to the Integrated national Police Training Command
including the 13 regional training centers throughout the country as
mandated by Presidential Decree (PD) 765.

On December 13, 1990, Republic Act (RA) 6975 otherwise known as the
DILG Act of 1990 was finally enacted thereby creating the now Bureau
of Fire Protection and its present organization under the umbrella of
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)

On June 24, 2004, congress enacted R.A. 9263 otherwise known as the
BFP Professionalization Act of 2004 which has professionalized and
upgraded the qualification standards of appointment in the Bureau of
Fire Protection.

On May 8, 2009, President Gloria M. Arroyo signed into law, R.A. 9592
entitled an “Act extending the 5 years reglementary period for
complying the minimum education qualification and appropriation
eligibility in the appointment of the BFP.