Mandaue launches emergency hotline number

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes yesterday led the launch of the Bantay Mandaue 161, the city’s emergency hotline number.

The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue can be reached through this number.

Cortes, some members of the city and barangay councils, and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) also unveiled the fire department’s substation in barangay Basak and the city’s command center, located beside city hall.

Cortes said the three projects are all aimed at reducing the response time to disasters and accidents.

The project is a joint effort of the city government, the Eruf, the BFP, and the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC).

Eruf chairman Dr. Pek Eng Lim said the international standard for response time is five minutes.

City fire Marshal Ronaldo Orbeta also said now that the fire substation is operational, residents will expect firefighters to respond quickly to fires.

The modern traffic lights will be controlled at the command center. The traffic lights’ closed-circuit television will also be monitored at the center.

Yesterday’s opening of the command center coincided with Eruf’s 27thanniversary.

Cortes said he was glad to bring the Eruf back to Mandaue, where it started in 1979.

Lim said Eruf’s biggest H.Q. will be built along the Mantawi Drive at the Reclamation Area this year.

The city government donated the 5,000-hectare lot for the construction. (FREEMAN)