Mayor Michael Rama receives a helping hand from BFP personnel as he steps off from the new fire truck after conducting an inspection. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Barangays Suba, Quiot, Basak San Nicolas and Basak Pardo also get one each
Five new fire trucks with a total value of of P27.5 million were turned over to the Cebu City Fire Department and four Cebu City barangays on Wednesday morning.
The turnover was held at the Cebu City Hall grounds.
Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of City Hall’s Peace and Order Program (POP), said the most expensive fire truck worth P13.5 million was given to the Cebu City fire department, while the four other fire trucks worth P3.5 million each were distributed to Barangays Suba, Quiot, Basak San Nicolas and Basak Pardo.
Tumulak said the Bureau of Fire Protection had put in a request for a new fire truck last year and this was approved by the council as part of the POP.
The other four are funded by the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
With the problem of lack of water supply due to El Niño phenomenon, the fire trucks may also be tapped to deliver potable water to affected barangays.
Tumulak said the delivery of fire trucks was delayed since the units have different features and fire volunteers needed to be oriented on how to operate them.
Fire-fighting equipment, such as aerial ladders capable of reaching the 18th floor of a high-rise is also up for delivery.
Tumulak said that with the increasing number of high-rise buildings in the city, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) assured the public that they have trained to handle fires involving high-rise buildings.
Basak Pardo barangay captain Yolandito Cagang was thankful for receiving their first fire truck. He also hoped that more fire trucks would be disbursed by the city.
“Whether there is an El Niño (phenomenon) or not, the fire trucks are still a necessity… We have experienced a big fire before,” Cagang said in Cebuano.
Cagang referred to the village’s March 2015 fire that razed 60 houses, affecting more 1,200 residents in Sitios Ulap, Bamboo and Laguna. Damage to property from that fire was pegged at P600,000.
Currently, 26 barangays in the city have already their own fire trucks.
Meanwhile, another 10 ambulances will be turned over this morning to the different barangays of the city.
Tumulak clarified that the distribution has nothing to do with the upcoming elections.