Title

COMMUNITY CONFIDENCE IN THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION: THE ROLE OF ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE AND RESPONSE TIME IN SERVICE EFFECTIVENESS

Author(s)

DUMANJUG, ALDIJE L.

GALLETO, JODELYN N.

SONER, VLADEMIER C.

RUBIO, RENAN M.

Affiliation

MISAMIS UNIVERSITY

Degree Program

Bachelor of Science In Criminology

Contributor

ALLANIC, ELMIE A. - ADVISER

LAGATA, LOVE S. - PANEL MEMBER

CANAPE, BERNAFLOR B. - PANEL MEMBER

CUEVAS, JOSE JR. F. - CHAIRMAN

ORONG, MARKDY Y. -INSTRUCTOR

Year

2026

Abstract

Effective fire protection services play a vital role in safeguarding lives, property, and community well-being, making public confidence a critical component of emergency response systems. This study assesses the community's perception and confidence in the Bureau of Fire Protection's effectiveness, response times, and operational capability. This study used a descriptive-correlational research design to measure the perceptions of the public and determine the relationships between community confidence, engagement initiatives, and response time. The survey was carried out in three selected barangays of Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, which have been chosen because fire incidents have been experienced previously. The respondents consisted of 377 residents who are within the BFP's service coverage area and have prior awareness or experience with its services. Data were collected by utilizing a researcher-made questionnaire addressing community confidence, efforts in community engagement, and response efficiency. The findings showed that community confidence in the BFP significantly depended on the effectiveness of community engagement efforts and how quickly response operations were conducted, emphasizing the strong link between these elements and perceived reliability in fire protection service. Specifically, the results revealed that engagement initiatives were rated very high, response time performance was perceived as very fast and accessible, and community confidence was also very high. However, the test of relationship showed that engagement initiatives and community confidence, as well as response time and community confidence, were not statistically significant. This study finds that the BFP maintains high public confidence due to regular community engagement and timely response, which, when combined, foster cooperation for safer communities. It may be recommended that the BFP enhances its engagement strategies through the improvement of hands-on training and communication channels while sustaining readiness operations to further reinforce public confidence in pursuing continued community safety.

Keywords

community perception, emergency response, equipment adequacy, geographical coverage.