DUMALINAO,
ZAMBOSUR: Mayor Ace William E. Cerilles said his town is always ready for
disaster as he disclosed a recent purchase of an emergency rescue vehicle (ERV)
worth P710-thousand.
We’re
not praying for a disaster but should it strike, we are ready, he said, adding
his decision to buy such vehicle was in response to the request of his
constituents to gear up for climate change adaptation, mitigation and
resiliency.
Cerilles
said the ERV was his priority since his town have flood-prone areas like
Rebokon and the coastal barangays of Pantad,
Metokong, Mama, Bagong Silao, and Bibilik.
He
pointed to a bridge in Brgy. Matab-ang near Rebokon which get flooded during
heavy rains that the local government made it necessary to repair it quickly to
make it accessible to travelling vehicles.
The
ERV, made by Pasajero Motors Corp. in Cebu City, was purchased from Cerilles’
calamity fund and is a first of its kind in Zambosur.
Cerilles
said he will buy another one next year and will recommend to his league of town
executives to try having one for their municipality’s use.
The
ERV has a fiberglass dinghy, 5hp outboard motor, 3KVA generator set and two sets
of 500 watts halogen lamps.
It
also has built-in fire extinguishers, a chainsaw, an axe, life jackets, rain
boots, hard hats, nylon ropes and flashlights
Cerilles
said that complimenting his new ERV is the Barangay Emergency Response Team
(BERT), which has 260 members.
(NEWS POSTED ALSO IN HARDLINE WEEKLY, PAGADIAN CITY)