Cebu City gets rescue gear from Germany

CEBU, Philippines -  To elevate its emergency response, the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office procured close to P25 million worth of life saving and safety equipment from Germany.

The equipment include two spreader units with diamond tips, two units of high performance metal cutter with curved blades, inflation mats, two compact combination units, two units of standard combination stools, two rescue ram units.

Other equipment are two units of cutter and door opener combination  set, two pieces of heavy rescue set lifting bags, two pieces of rescue saws for laminated glass, metal and wood, and two pieces of small and lightweight glass saws.

A total amount of P24,690,000 is charged to the city's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.

CCDRRMO executive director Simeon Romarate said the equipment will be used during disasters like earthquake, landslides, fires and other calamities.

He said it would further enhance the delivery of services in times of disasters, making the response more "immediate and quick".

"Dako ang tabang sa equipment kay ma-lessen ang time paghimo sa response and daghan ang life ma-save. Importante man gyod kaayo ang time kay kinabuhi man gihisgutan kun dunay disaster," Romarate said.

Romarate said the lives of  the five vendors killed after portion of the Pasil Fish Market collapsed during last year's magnitude 7.2 earthquake could have been spared if the city has these advanced equipment.

CCDRRMO had requested for the procurement of the life-saving equipment, but it was only last week that the equipment arrived in Cebu from Germany.

The city awarded Boston Home Inc., an industrial supply company, as the winning supplier.

"Dili man mahal ang equipment kay battery-operated, its maintenance free and in good quality," Romarate said adding that these are hydraulic-powered equipment.

Yesterday, a representative of  Boston Home Inc. has demonstrated the function of the equipment to CCDRRMO and City Quick Response teams.  (FREEMAN)