The Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas (ABP) Partylist marked a significant milestone with the grand opening and blessing of its headquarters at JW Diokno Boulevard, Pasay City, on Friday, March 21, 2025, drawing key political figures and sectoral groups, reinforcing ABP’s mission to uplift firefighters and first responders nationwide.
Among the distinguished guests was former Laguna governor ER Ejercito, who is seeking a political comeback as mayor of Pagsanjan.
Accompanying him were his children, Maria Guadalupe “Jhulia,” a candidate for the Laguna Provincial Board’s 4th district, and Jorge Antonio Genaro “Jerico,” running for vice governor of Laguna.
The Ejercitos expressed their strong support for ABP Partylist, with ER Ejercito boldly predicting that the partylist will secure three million votes from Laguna alone. Various advocacy groups and sectoral organizations also lent their support, including the Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement, People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reform (PADER), Alyansa ng Bayan para sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
Leadingthe inauguration of the ABP headquarters was the partylist’s first nominee, Dr. Jose Antonio Ejercito “Ka Pep” Goitia, together with other nominees Leninsky Bacud, Catleya Cher Goitia, Jose Mari Alfonso Goitia, Carl Gene Moreno Plantado and Howie Quimzon Manga.
The launch of its headquarters coincided with encouraging results from the latest Tangere 2025 Pre-Election Party-List Preferential Survey. ABP Partylist climbed from 14th to 12th place, with voter preference rising from 1.68% in February to 2% in March. This upward trend signals growing public recognition of ABP’s advocacy for firefighter welfare and disaster response readiness.
As the only partylist representing the firefighting sector, ABP said it has been at the forefront of legislative initiatives aimed at improving working conditions, securing budget allocations, and modernizing firefighting equipment.
Highlighting the dire conditions firefighters face, Goitia underscored the lack of adequate support systems: “Firefighters are expected to be fearless in the face of danger, but when they suffer injuries, they are left to fend for themselves. It’s as if their bravery is taken for granted,” he lamented.”
The ABP Partylist has outlined a comprehensive legislative agenda to institutionalize reforms that will benefit firefighters nationwide:
Firefighters’ Welfare and Benefits Act – Aims to improve salaries, hazard pay, and healthcare benefit; Fire Equipment Modernization Bill – Seeks to upgrade fire stations with modern tools and technology and Community-Based Fire Prevention Program – Focuses on grassroots fire safety education and disaster preparedness.
