CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–Different barangays in Cagayan de Oro City received 53 vehicles intended for its disaster response and rescue operations. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri led the Turnover Ceremony held August 18 at Pueblo de Oro Business Park, Upper Carmen, this city.
In his message during the ceremony, Senator Zubiri said that his office would be turning over 81 vehicles for all the barangays in the city and one for the city government. The remaining 23 vehicles are still being procured.
“Ang disaster response kinahanglan magsugod gyud diha sa barangay level. Sa gisugyot ni ganina sa atuang pinalangga nga DILG representative, kamo ang pinakaduol sa atuang katawhan dinhi ug dali kaayo maka-responde kung adunay katalagman, mga kalamidad ug simbako dili na unta muabot ang mga dagko nga kalamidad dinhi sa atung siyudad
(The disaster response should start from the barangay level. As mentioned by our DILG representative earlier, you are the closest to our residents and it is quicker for you to respond when it comes to emergencies),” he said.
He further said that the turned-over vehicles compose the 100-million project and are funded through the local government support fund coming from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Zubiri also shared that Cagayan de Oro City experienced the worst back in 2011 when the tropical storm “Sendong” struck the city.
“I remember experiencing Sendong, nahitabo ang Sendong sa atua. That was the largest disaster experienced by Cagayan de Oro. Daghan kaayo atung mga kaigsuonan namatay adtong Sendong. Gani after 4 days, naghatag gihapon kita ug assistance. Red Cross pod ko volunteer. I was a member of the board of Red Cross. Immediately naghatag ta ug assistance, pero nakit-an jod natu nga pag-abot sa rescue equipment, kulang pa kaayo ang atuang city at that time, at that time (I remember experiencing tropical storm Sendong and it was the largest disaster experienced by Cagayan de Oro and a tropical storm that taken the lives of our many fellow countrymen. As one of the Red Cross volunteers, we also provided assistance and we saw that at that time, there was a lack of rescue equipment,” he shared, further hoping that the turned-over vehicles would be a big help in rescue and disaster response as well as preparedness. “Mao tung giingon sa atuang DILG representative, it is not only during disasters and post-disaster but also rescue preparedness ang paggamit sa atuang sakyanan (As mentioned by our DILG representative, our vehicles are used not only during disasters and post-disaster but also rescue preparedness),” he added.
In his acceptance speech, City Mayor Rolando A. Uy thanked the senator for his concern for the city.
“Talagsaon kaayo kining gihimo ni Senate President Migz Zubiri, sa paghatag sa mga sakyanan o sa mga rescue vehicles alang sa atung mga kabaranggayan sa dakbayan. Kulang ra ang pagpasalamat niining iyang gihimo alang kanato, pinaagi sa Department of the Interior and Local Government ug sa Department of Budget and Management.
(This turning over of rescue vehicles to different barangays in our city is a unique gesture given to us by Senate President Migz Zubiri, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Budget and Management. Saying ‘thank you’ is not enough.),” he said.
The mayor also emphasized that the security of the residents is one of the main purposes of governance since it is a right of every Filipino. Security is also a reason that people created a government that will ensure and protect this security.
“Subay niini, obligasyon sa gobyerno ang paghimo ug pagpatuman sa mga balaudnon, programa o proyekto aron tinuoray na mapanalipdan ug mapatunhay ang katungod sa katawhan. Usa sa lain nga bahin, katungdanan usab sa katawhan ang pagtuman sa iyang mga obligasyon aron masuportahan ug mapalig-on ang gobyerno diha sa pagtuman sa katuyoan sa pagtukod niini nga usa mao ang pagpatunhay sa katungod sa katawhan ug sa paghatag kanila sa kinahanglan nga seguridad. Kini mao ang gibarugan ni Senate President Migz Zubiri niining sa iyang pagduso sa programa sa pagpalig-on sa mga kapasidad sa mga kabaranggayan, tungod kay ang mga kabaranggayan man ang pinakauna nga dalampanan nga buhatan sa gobyerno.
(Following this, the government must create and implement policies, programs and projects to truly protect and secure the rights of each individual. Moreover, it is also the responsibility of the people to do their duties in supporting and establishing the government to uphold the latter’s aim of ensuring the protection of the people’s rights and providing them with the needed security. This is what Senate President Zubiri has stood up for through defending the program to capacitate the barangays of Cagayan de Oro which is the first level of response in the government.),” the mayor added.
Moreover, Hazel L. Occena of Department of the Interior and Local Government – Region 10 said that their regional director, Director Wilhelm M. Suyko, sends his gratefulness for having them as part of the momentous event for Cagayan de Oro City.
She said disaster preparedness is not just about capacity building but also about acquiring helpful equipment. She added that the turned-over vehicles are needed by barangays especially those situated in disaster-prone areas, as well as those identified by Mines and Geosciences Bureau as areas prone to landslides and flooding incidents.
President of Liga ng mga Barangay, Councilor Yan Lam S. Lim, in his part, expressed his gratefulness and said that the vehicles are not just merely donations but are tools for progress and development for people in this part of the country. It is mainly to provide services to those who need such and give solutions to the problems experienced by humanity.
During the turnover ceremony, a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and blessing of vehicles are also held. (PIA10/IJBD)
