SABLAN, Benguet – The municipal government now has a penetrator fire truck after its fruitful counterpart-funding partnership with the provincial government of Benguet headed by Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas.
Governor Diclas said the provincial government released P3.8 million to augment the funds available at the said municipal government for the procurement of a P4.4-million firetruck.
According to Abner Lawangen, Benguet Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO), the procurement of the penetrator is part of the effort of the Provincial DRRM Council in strengthening the capacity of the municipality to respond to emergency situations.
Reports say Sablan has recorded significant number of unattended or unmanaged fire incidents due to narrow roads where firetrucks or huge vehicles could not enter prompting the to request for a penetrator, a firetruck designed to penetrate through narrow streets.
Governor Diclas and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by Vice Governor Ericson Lawagey Felipe officially turned over the penetrator firetruck Monday morning, July 25, at the Provincial Capitol to the municipal government headed by Mayor Alfredo Dacumos Jr.
Meanwhile, the Provincial DRRM Council chaired by Governor Diclas continues to remind the public to regularly practice fire safety measures as fire incidents in the province are still on the rise.
PDRRMO said most of the reported fire cases in the province are caused by negligence, unattended cooking areas, electrical problems, and faulty wirings.
By SAP Jr.
