Two fires on consecutive days in August have pushed fire protection onto the Bislig City Council's agenda, with Barangay Tabon at the center of it.
According to Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution No. 2026-676, adopted on August 11, 2026, a fire struck Purok 6, Maraville, Barangay Tabon on August 6, 2026, "affecting thirty-four (34) residential houses and families." The next day, August 7, another fire broke out at Purok 6, Castillo Village, Barangay Mangagoy. That one left seven residential houses totally burned, plus one partially damaged house and one partially damaged commercial building, the resolution says.
The council asked the BFP for a full report
Resolution No. 2026-676, authored by Councilor Alfredo J. Carmelo, asks the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), through Acting City Fire Marshal F/Insp. Bomen T. Lofranco, to submit a report on both incidents.
The council wants "verified information on the circumstances of the incidents, the extent of damage, the firefighting operations undertaken, and the status of the corresponding investigations." It says the findings will help it decide on legislative and budget measures for fire prevention, firefighting capability, emergency preparedness and support for affected families.
As of October 25, 2026, Bislig Today has not found a published BFP report or an official cause for either fire.
A fire sub-station for Tabon
At the same August 11 session, the council adopted Resolution No. 2026-675, authored by Councilor Bernadeth May R. Almanon-Balondo. It authorizes Mayor Florencio C. Garay to allocate funds for a BFP sub-station in Barangay Tabon.
The resolution describes Tabon as one of Bislig's "primary commercial, residential, and densely populated centers," with a population of 16,227 under the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) census. It argues that a sub-station there would "significantly reduce emergency response time" and complement the city's existing fire protection facilities.
On funding, the resolution points to "available city resources or appropriate local disaster risk reduction and management funds" for construction, operation and maintenance. It does not name an amount, a site or a timeline. A resolution like this authorizes the mayor to set aside money. It is not itself a budget appropriation, so the actual funding would still have to show up in a city budget or supplemental budget.
Hydrants and water tanks for hard-to-reach areas
Two weeks later, on August 25, 2026, the council adopted Resolution No. 2026-730. Its title urges "the review, updating, and expansion of existing fire protection water infrastructure initiatives in Bislig City," including fire hydrants and "multi-purpose emergency water storage tanks in densely populated, fire-prone, and interior areas with limited or difficult access by fire trucks."
The full text of Resolution No. 2026-730 has not been posted on the city's resolutions page as of October 25, so Bislig Today can only report what its title says.
The concern is a practical one. In tight residential puroks, a fire truck may not be able to get close, and the nearest water source decides how fast a fire can be stopped. The timing also matters. PAGASA's El Niño Advisory No. 5, issued October 7, 2026, says a strong to very strong El Niño is present and expected to last into the first half of 2027, with below-normal October rainfall forecast for the Caraga Region. Drier months tend to raise fire risk.
What residents can do now
While the sub-station and hydrant plans move through the city government, the BFP's standing advice applies: keep the local fire station's hotline posted at home, check electrical wiring and extension cords, never leave cooking unattended, and keep a clear path for fire trucks in narrow streets.
Bislig Today will report when the BFP report reaches the council or when funding for the Tabon sub-station appears in a city budget.
Sources: City of Bislig, Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution Nos. 2026-675 and 2026-676 (adopted August 11, 2026) and the published title of Resolution No. 2026-730 (August 25, 2026), all at bislig.gov.ph; DOST-PAGASA El Niño Advisory No. 5 (October 7, 2026).