Makati cries foul over fire trucks

The city government of Makati is crying foul over the "unfair" distribution of new fire trucks purchased under a Japanese loan package for the local government units of Metro Manila.

In a letter to Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay reiterated the city’s request for additional support for the city’s fire department.

The new fire trucks would be purchased under the P2.31-billion loan package for the Metro Manila Fire Protection Enhancement Project.

According to the list of LGUs that would be receiving the new trucks, Makati City would be allocated two units out of the 81 that would be purchased.

In contrast, Las Pinas City would receive eight trucks; Mandaluyong City, Muntinlupa City and Parañaque City, three to four trucks each; Taguig, five; and Pateros, two.

Binay argued that the city should be given greater consideration because of its status as the financial district and tourist destination.

He pointed out that the city’s fire department only has a total of 12 fire trucks, eight of which were purchased by the city government. The last truck provided by the national government for the city was delivered in 1992.

Binay said that only one of the trucks is equipped with a ladder which can only extend up to eight stories. The tallest building in Makati City is the PBCom Tower at 52 stories. – Marvin Sy