Mandaue barangays get equipment for disaster preparedness program

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government has turned over P3 million worth of equipment to the city's 27 barangay captains to be used for their disaster preparedness program.

The money was taken from the city's calamity fund after a rule prohibiting local government units from purchasing equipment for disaster preparedness program was reversed.

The purchase of the equipment was made upon the recommendation of the City Risk Reduction and Management Council following the flashflood last January 25 due to a cloud burst.

The equipment which the city has purchased includes 5 Promate portable generators, 5 stihl chainsaws, 30 centrifugal water suctions, 240 meters of corrugated suction hose, 30 rolls of duct hose (disposable), 5 9-footer fiberglass boats, 5 14-footer fiberglass boats, 5 folding tents, 100 life jackets, 25 life rings, 60 shovels,10 flashlights,100 rain boots, 100 raincoats, 5 100m static ropes, 5 100m. static ropes, and six sets of safety harnesses.

During yesterday's turnover ceremony, which was witnessed by the city councilors, Mayor Jonas Cortes said each of the barangays will receive water suction pumps and corrugated suction hoses.

Equipment will also be distributed to the five clustered barangays namely the Centro cluster, to be headed by barangay Centro, the Mahiga creek cluster, to be headed by barangay Subangdaku, the Kadagatan cluster, to be headed by barangay Umapad, the Butuanon cluster to be headed by barangay Basak, and the Kabukiran cluster to be headed by barangay Cabancalan.

The five 9-foot fiberglass boats and another five 12-foot fiberglass boats will be distributed to each of the five cluster barangays.

Cortes said the next equipment the city will purchase will be Ultra High Frequency radios (UHF). At present, the city uses only VHF radios.

"Kining disaster way maayong laki ani. The best thing to do is to be vigilant at all times," Cortes said.

He said members of the "Barangay Disaster Brigade" would be given an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the equipment.