ANNOUNCEMENT MEMORANDUM

Manila Fire Department Then…

                       Manila Fire District Now

 The City of Manila

            The City of Manila sprouted from a Filipino native community at the mouth of the Pasig River invaded by the Spanish Forces in 1571 and turned into Fort Santiago and then expanded within the walls of Intramuros and its suburbs until it was invaded by the Americans and made it the first city of the Philippines in July 31, 1901, hence the Capital of the Philippines. Later on June 24, 1977, Manila became the official capital of the Philippines by virtue of Presidential Decree 940.

            The city encompasses a land area of 4045.8 hectares including all reclaim areas along Manila Bay with a coastline length 190 km. at 14°38’ latitude and 120°60’ longitude, it is strategically located on the eastern coast of Manila Bay at the mouth of Pasig River which runs on an east west course through the center and divides the city on its northern and southern sectors. Manila is bounded by seven other cities: in the north by Navotas and Calookan, northeast by Quezon City, San Juan and Mandaluyong in the east, southeast by Makati and Pasay in the south.

The City of Manila is divided into six (6) congressional districts with 100 zones and 897 barangays. Tondo, with 24 Zones, was divided into 2 – Tondo I, the first congressional district and Tondo II the second congressional district. District III with 16 zones, includes Binondo, Quiapo, San Nicolas and Sta. Cruz. District IV, with 17 zones, is comprised by Sampaloc alone. District V, with 32 zones , includes Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, Paco, Port Area and San Andres.  District VI, with 11 zones, is comprised of San Miguel, Pandacan, Sta. Ana and Sta. Mesa.

Strategic Locations of Fire Stations

History of the Manila Fire District

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 5^th 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.

  On January 9, 1987, Brigadier General Mario C. Tanchanco assumed office as Superintendent of Fire District I, NCR/MFP/INP and took the reign of Manila Fire District Command up to January 25, 1992. It was Fire District Command up to January 25, 1992. It was during his reign when the DILG Act of 1990 (RA 6975) was approved  and put into law and as a consequence the Manila Fire District Command and the whole fire district in other regional office of the Philippines was separated from the PC/INP/MPF set up. The Fire Protection was placed under the umbrella of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). This took effect on January 1, 1991. During his term, he initiated the procurement of additional fire trucks, creation of the EMS 161 and the activation of the Command Post Unit which is still one of the existing units in the MFD.

  On January 27, 1992, Director Mario C. Tanchanco assumed as the overall Fire Chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection.  Upon the ascendancy of Director Tanchanco at BFP National Office, Sr. Superintendent Alfonso T. Clemente took over his post left in Fire District I, Manila and eventually became the District Fire Marshal of Manila from January 26, 1992, up to December 21, 1992. Superintendent Clemente was responsible for the renovation of Fire District I Training School at Intramuros Fire Station as well as the renovation of Paco Fire Station and the repair of Service Vehicle of the Construction and Repair Unit. It was also in his administration that the adjustment of ranks was implemented to qualified BFP personnel.

Upon his retirement, Sr. Supt. Clemente’s tenure was extended by Pres. Fidel V. Ramos and was named OIC of the Bureau of Fire Protection succeeding the former Director Mario C. Tanchanco who had gone on an indefinite leave.

 On December 22, 1991, Sr. Supt. Antonio G. Lopena BFP, took over and assumed District Fire Marshal of Manila up to December 15, 1993. His Administration was well known for construction of the Fire District I Headquarters at Arroceros. He also initiated the move to repair of all fire stations within the City of Manila before he became the Regional Fire Marshal of the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region.

 On December 27, 1993, Sr. Supt. Antonio Ballesteros, BFP succeeded Sr. Supt. Lopena and took over the Manila Fire District Command up to October 9, 1994. He was responsible for the maintenance of all fire trucks  and kept its operational capability despite the meager budget allocated for its maintenance. Some of these units are still operational at present.

 Upon his compulsory retirement, Supt. Eutemio Z. Buenaventura assumed District Fire Marshal of Manila from October 10, 1994 up to December 31, 1998. it was during his administration when a notable increase in the collection of Fire Code Fees was recorded due to his strict policy on the implementation of PD 1185 otherwise known as the Fire Code of the Philippines.

  On January 1, 1998 Superintendent Eutemio Z. Buenaventura proceeded to an indefinite leave of absence, and since it would only took some months to go before his retirement, Chief Inspector Ricardo D. Lemence assumed the post left by him and immediately designated as OIC of Fire District I, NCR (Acting District Fire Marshal) from January 2, 1998 up to January 15, 1999. Chief Inspector Lemence was responsible for the continuity of all the projects of his predecessor.

  At the early part of the year 1999, the re-assignment of BFP Senior Officers was initiated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. This led to the appointment of Superintendent Jacinto C Diquiatco as chief of the Manila Fire Department on January 2, 1999. His administration was responsible for the spiritual upliftment of the Fire District I Personnel by organizing Life in the Spirit Seminar and Marriage Counseling.   

  On November 7, 2007 another re shuffle was undertaken by the DILG that resulted to the designation of then Chief Inspector Pablito D. Cordeta as the New Fire Marshal of the Manila Fire Department. Among his laudable achievements as MFD Chief are the rehabilitation of the various firefighting equipment and apparatus, renovation and installation of additional Infrastructure within the Fire District I Headquarters and fire stations, drug testing of personnel and the conduct of physical fitness program every Thursday morning. He is also known for his keen and closely monitoring of fire operations which often lead to minimal damages on life and properties. Due to these commendable achievements Chief Inspector Cordeta was promoted first as a Superintendent and later as a Senior Superintendent while serving at the Manila Fire Department.

  On July of the year 2008, he was transferred to Region 8 and became the Regional Director of the said region. As a result Superintendent Felixberto F. Abrenica assumed office as the new head of Fire District I-Manila and the 20^th of the long “fire line” since the first American Fire Chief with his designation as Acting District Fire Marshal. It was during his tenure that the name Manila Fire District was adopted.  During his stint as the new MFD, he had already accomplished many things for the whole MFD Command. For less than one year as Fire Marshal of Manila, he had already acquired several fire trucks, tools, and equipment for the MFD. He is also responsible for the renovation and beautification of all fire stations within the jurisdiction of the Manila Fire District. There is also a notable increase in the collection of fire code fees, a result of the effective enforcement of the Fire Code of the Philippines . Superintendent Abrenica vows to bring the Bumberos closer to its constituents as he prioritize the implementation of various programs like the Barangay Ugnayan and the SIKAP Program of the BFP-both aimed to strengthen the participation of the public in fire prevention and suppression activities of the MFD.