Taguig ready for rainy season

WASAR equipment on standby

Taguigeños need not to worry as the local government assures that all preparations are set this rainy season.

In line with this, the Taguig Rescue Team conducted an inventory of their water search and rescue equipment (WASAR) to check its serviceability to provide better service in times of need.

According to Mayor Lani Cayetano, the preparations are to make sure that less or no damage will come to the constituents during heavy downpours and floods.

“The rainy season has always been a cause of worry to our constituents. We want to relieve them of that uneasiness through the proper preparations and contingency plans for any untoward incident,” said Mayor Lani.

To further their preparation efforts, the Rescue team had refresher trainings on the use of WASAR to ensure proper handling of equipment.

According to Taguig Rescue Chief Ronald Galicia, the city has 14 aluminum flood boats on stand-by. 10 of those have eight-man capacity and four can carry six people. They also have rubber boats, outboard motors, ropes, throw bags, floatation vests, and diving gears for water search and rescue operations.

“During floods, there are streets that are difficult to navigate because our boats cannot fit, it is very narrow so the six-man capacity flood boat is very ideal for streets as these,” Galicia said.

Aside from flood boats, ten 30- horsepower outboard motors were added to Taguig Rescue’s disaster equipments.

The local government also assured the public that the City Engineering Office and the City Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO) made the necessary precautions to prevent floods.

In fact, The Engineering Office is doing a constant check-up of the different pumping stations in the city and de-clogging of waterways while the SWMO is doing continuous clean-up drives.

“I urge everyone to take part in these preparations. If everyone will cooperate and work together, we will truly be ready for anything,” the local chief executive said. ####

FILIPINO VERSION:

Taguig handa na sa tag-ulan

WASAR equipment nakaantabay

Tiniyak ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Taguig na walang dapat ikabahala ang mga Taguigueno ngayong tag-ulan dahil sa ginawa nitong mga paghahanda.

Kasabay nito, inalam na ng Taguig Rescue kung handa  rin ang kanilang water search and rescue equipment (WASAR) sa oras na ito ay kailanganin.

Ayon kay Mayor Lani Cayetano, layon nito na matiyak na magiging maliit o kung hindi man ay walang mapipinsala sa mga mamamayan ng Taguig sa sandaling may malalakas na pag-ulan.

“Ang panahon ng tag-ulan ay palaging nagdudulot ng pagkabahala sa aming mga mamamayan. Nais naming pawiin ang mga alalahaning iyan sa pamamagitan ng tamang preparasyon at  pagpaplano sa mga hindi inaasahang insidente,” wika ni Mayor Lani.

Upang pag-ibayuhin ang kanilang paghahanda, ay binalikan ng Rescue Team ang kanilang mga natutunan sa paggamit ng WASAR upang masanay at mas lalo silang maging bihasa.

Ayon kay Taguig Rescue Chief Ronald Galicia, mayroon silang nakaantabay na 14 na  aluminum flood boat kung saan sampu sa mga ito ay  kayang magsakay ng walo katao, samantalang ang apat ay may kakayahan namang maglulan ng anim na tao. Mayroon din silang mga rubber boat, mga outboard motor, lubid, throw bags, floatation vests at mga kagamitan sa diving na magagamit sa water search and rescue operations.

 “Kapag baha, may mga kalsadang mahirap puntahan dahil hindi magkasya ang aming mga bangka sa kitid ng mga pasukan kaya akmang-akma para rito ang aming mga six-man capacity flood boat,” pahayag ni Galicia.

Bukod sa mga flood boat, mayroon ding sampung 30-horsepower outboard motor na idinagdag sa disaster equipments ng Taguig Rescue.

Kasabay nito, tiniyak din ng lokal na pamahalaan sa publiko na nagsakatuparan ng kinakailangang mga hakbangin ang City Engineering Office at ang City Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO) upang maiwasan ang pagbaha.

Sa katunayan, madalas na sinusuri ng Engineering Office ang ilang pumping station na nasa lungsod gayundin ang pag-aalis ng mga nakabara  sa daluyan ng tubig habang ang SWMO naman ay patuloy sa kanilang clean-up drive.

“Hinihimok ko ang lahat na makibahagi sa ating paghahanda. Kung ang lahat ay makikiisa at sama-samang magtutulungan, ay tunay tayong magiging handa sa kahit na anong kaganapan,” pahayag pa ng alkalde. ###