Disaster response agencies in Davao City get 38 new vehicles

Some of 38 vehicles that will be assigned to different disaster response agencies in Davao City. MindaNews photo by IAN CARL ESPINOSA

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 December) — Thirty-eight land and water vehicles will be distributed to different agencies in Davao City tasked to respond to disasters and emergencies.

The city government held a blessing ceremony for the vehicles in front of the City Hall Friday morning.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) will receive three ambulances.

The City Engineer’s Office (CEO) will receive four wheel-type excavators, three 10-wheeler dump trucks, four 6-wheeler dump trucks, and one 6-wheeler multi-purpose vehicle, while the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) will get one van, one open dump truck, and three additional dump trucks.

The City Transport and Traffic Management Office will receive three mobile emergency vehicles, Bureau of Fire Protection-Davao City and Task Force Davao will each receive one fiber boat, while the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will get five trucks for disaster response, four 4×4 vehicle trucks, and four fiber boats.

In a speech during the blessing of the vehicles Friday morning, CDRRMO head Alfredo Baloran said the vehicles are a “great Christmas gift” that will improve their services during calamities and emergencies.

“The blessing is also timely this Christmas season, as it will allow us to begin the new year with these new vehicles. These vehicles will significantly enhance our capacity to serve and protect the welfare of all Dabawenyos, particularly during times of disaster and emergency,” Baloran said, reading the message of Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.

The CDRRMO received P637,704,000 from the supplemental budget (SB) 1, and allotted the biggest portion, or P135,517,000 to Central 911.

Central 911 as defined by their website is the city’s “primary emergency response service which includes medical assistance, search and rescue, fire auxiliary and K-9 services for the residents of Davao City.”

SB1, which falls under this year’s LGU’s annual investment program, prioritized non-infrastructure and infrastructure projects

A committee report on SB1 showed that CDRRMO’s allocation of P135,517,000 to Central 911 is for new drugs and medicines, training expenses, disaster response and rescue equipment (including breathing apparatus, chainsaws, fire vehicles), medical equipment, motor vehicles, communication equipment (including digital and portable radio equipment), and watercrafts (rubber boats).

The CDRRMO also allotted P21,028,000 to DCPO for vehicles to be used in DRRM work, P6,412,000 for TF Davao’s search and rescue equipment, P19,743,000 to CENRO for vehicles for its enhanced safety and growth condition of urban trees program, and P96,000,000 for vehicles for CEO’s debris clearing team and flood mitigation and response program, among others.

In August, Baloran said there is a need to upgrade and add more vehicles and equipment responding to disasters and emergencies to assure timely emergency response and other basic services, highlighting these as a “priority” of the city government. (Ian Carl Espinosa/MindaNews)