The new aerial ladder truck that can reach up to 18 storeys (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA).
THERE won’t be any more high-rise buildings in Cebu City if Mayor Tomas Osmeña has his way.
In yesterday’s press conference, the mayor said he wants to lower the height of buildings to less than 18 storeys to make it easier for firefighters and emergency teams to rescue people stranded inside the structures in case of fire and other calamities.
The city government turned over the P57 million aerial ladder truck and a mini-ambulance to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) at the city’s warehouse in the South Road Properties (SRP) yesterday morning.
“If there’s a fire in your high rise building, we can’t save you. That’s my warning to the people of Cebu City. I’m thinking of reducing structures of building heights to a level where we can save you,” Osmeña told reporters.
Osmeña said he will meet with city engineers and some city councilors to make some modifications with the city’s building rules in terms of fire safety for high rise buildings as well as parking requirements.
The BFP said they are thankful to the city for giving them an aerial ladder truck and promised to take care of it.
“We have 12 trained personnel that will be assigned to the equipment. They will be on rotation,” Senior Supt. Samuel Tadeo said.
The supplier brought BFP personnel to South Korea to undergo training in the use of the ladder there.
Nagiel Banacia, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) chief, said the city government is drafting an agreement between the city and BFP on the turnover and use of the equipment.