Asian execs impressed by Mandaue’s Bantay 161

CEBU, Philippines - Representatives of Asian cities and non-government agencies were impressed with how the emergency response facility of Mandaue City is working.

At least 11 representatives of Asian cities including mayors and 34 other local government and non-government officials in the country recently visited the Bantay Mandaue 161 command center.

These foreign delegates and local executives were in Cebu last February 26 to attend the three-day “International Conference on the Coalition of Local Governments held at Allure Hotel and Suites in Mandaue City.

The conference was focused on the best policies and practices on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and social inclusion.

In their visit, they were impressed with the city’s command center located at the side of the City Hall equipped with TV monitors showing the real time situation in the city’s major intersections through the 36 CCTV cameras installed in these areas.

The center which is also equipped with telephone lines is manned by personnel of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM), Emergency Rescue Team and a policeman to respond to any emergency calls via its hotline 161.

At present, two sub-stations are established in barangays Subangdaku and Basak.

Nong C. Rangasa, chairman and executive director of Local Climate Change Adaptation for Development, said the set-up in Mandaue City is worthy of duplication.

He said that with the community involvement and continuous training will help the communities achieve zero casualty in case of a disaster and believes that rescue will be a thing of the past if an LGU has such kind of facility.

Li-Ann M. de Leon, president of Kahanga-hanga Pilipinas, Inc., said the city is worth featuring in their official TV program over TV 4 or Television ng Bayan as he planned to come back to the city for documentation of its best practice.

Arthur Anae of the Council of Auckland, New Zealand for his part said the setting up of the command center in the city with the state-of-the-art gadgets really helps the city respond quickly to any emergency.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes during the welcome dinner held at the city’s Hall of Fame lauded the conference saying that it enables every city in the country and in Asia share and pool their resources in implementing mitigating measures against the adverse impact of climate change. (FREEMAN)