BONTOC, Mountain Province – As part of the disaster resiliency program, one pick-up vehicle that is designed and capable to respond to emergency situations has been procured by the Bontoc municipal government.
During the blessing of the new pick–up vehicle on February 14, 2019, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Johanna Padaen said that the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) services of the municipal government can now be brought closer to the people especially to the outskirt barangays of Bontoc.
Considering the geographical locations of the different barangays of Bontoc, Padaen added that the new pick–up vehicle will boost the response team of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), but also, in the delivery of relief operations during calamities, for monitoring damages in times of disaster.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey is optimistic that the procurement of a vehicle will further enhance the services needed by the constituents in the occurrence of emergencies and calamities, saying, “We are not praying for any calamities to be fall in our place, but should it be unavoidable, we can assure a quicker search, rescue and response operations with the additional vehicle of the municipal government.”
The blessing of the vehicle was officiated by Father Lucrecia Turtem of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines and was attended by officials and employees of the municipality, personnel from the different line agencies and other stakeholders.
By Alpine L. Killa, Bontoc