“Lessons I learned: just take it easy and let God set everything in motion. Win some, lose some. There are ups and downs. It’s not where you are now that counts but on how you enjoy the ride. Once upon a time, officers who have stars on their shoulders, hopia lang ang katapat. Wala tayong dapat ipagmayabang. I got my stars because of my faith, my family and my classmates from PNPA Class of 1992.”- -F/DIR LOUIE SURALTA PURACAN, CEO VI
During the course of more than three decades, Puracan has had a spectacular career in public service. His humble beginnings began in 1992 as a Fire Inspector-a proud member of the PNPA “TAGAPAGTUPAD” Class of 1992., and with perseverance and commitment, he rose the ranks. He is the son of public school instructors in Trinidad, Bohol, and Camotes, Cebu, Aquilino and Clarita Puracan. He was appointed on September 1, 2021, after Jose Embang Jr., who retired from service, and is currently in charge of over 35,000 fire fighters across the nation.
Puracan, who serves as the BFP’s director, is responsible for overseeing agency operations, ensuring public security and catastrophe response, and encouraging nationwide fire safety awareness and prevention efforts. The BFP has increased its efforts under Puracan’s guidance. The organization has also been closely working with regional government bodies and other stakeholders to enhance its services and develop its capabilities for disaster response.
The “Fire-Free Fridays” program, which seeks to lessen the frequency of fires started by carelessness or negligence, is one of Puracan’s noteworthy achievements as Chief, BFP. With the help of this campaign, the BFP wants to remind people to practice fire safety precautions every Friday, like inspecting their electrical wiring, keeping combustible goods away from heat sources, and testing their smoke alarms. Puracan’s leadership has also been instrumental in the BFP’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency has played a crucial role in enforcing health protocols and providing assistance to affected communities. The BFP has set up isolation facilities, conducted disinfection activities, and assisted in contact tracing efforts.
Puracan himself has been actively involved in these efforts, personally leading BFP teams in responding to emergencies and providing aid to affected individuals and families. Stakeholders in the public and private sectors have praised his leadership in great numbers. He is a great asset to the organization and the nation as a whole because of his depth of expertise, passion, and leadership abilities. Under his direction, the BFP is anticipated to keep up its efforts to support disaster preparedness and fire safety, as well as to offer the Filipino people high-quality services.
