Barangay Officials’ Role in Fire Safety: Understanding and Implementation

Despite the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) establishing a standardized community-based fire protection plan known as Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan (OLP), a critical gap remains in understanding how barangay officials comprehend their roles and how this understanding influences the effectiveness of OLP implementation. Addressing this gap is essential for enhancing community fire safety outcomes. This study investigated the level of understanding of OLP roles among 300 barangay officials in a component city and examined the correlation between this understanding and the extent of OLP implementation. Utilizing a descriptive-correlational design and a researcher-made questionnaire, participants were selected through stratified random sampling. Statistical analyses included mean, standard deviation, frequency, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Spearman’s Rho correlation. Results revealed that barangay officials exhibited high comprehension of General Awareness of OLP (M=3.55) and Application of OLP Principles (M=3.63), but only moderate Knowledge of OLP Components (M=3.46). Educational attainment had a significant influence on understanding, with college graduates outperforming their high school counterparts (p = 0.004). Variations in comprehension were also significant across different roles and experience durations (all p<0.05). Implementation levels varied among OLP programs, with the Lingap Program scoring the lowest (M = 3.39). Significant barriers included limited access to fire prevention equipment (57%), community reluctance to participate in drills (44.3%), and insufficient funding (42.7%). Importantly, a strong positive correlation (ρ = 0.826, p < 0.01) was found between officials’ understanding of their roles and the effectiveness of OLP implementation. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted, modular training; improved resource allocation; inter-agency collaboration; and community engagement strategies to bridge existing gaps and enhance the OLP’s impact on local fire safety.