Firetrucks Deputy Speaker & Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II turns over two units of 54-meter aerial ladder firetrucks to officials of the Bureau of fire Protection (BFP) Friday at Mandaluyong City’s Greenfield District

2 firetrucks 5 ambulances boost Mandaluyong’s emergency response

January 29, 2022 People's Journal 465 views

DEPUTY Speaker and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II on Friday led the turnover of two firetrucks and five ambulances to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and several barangays to boost the city’s emergency response amidst the continuing coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic and the recent fires that struck some areas in Mandaluyong.

Two units of 54-meter aerial ladder firetrucks capable of a 18-storey building elevation were turned over to BFP Mandaluyong during the ceremony graced by Gonzales, his wife Queenie, and city officials in Greenfield District. The five ambulance units worth P2.4 million each from the Department of Health were given to Barangay Addition Hills, Barangay Hulo, Barangay Vergara, Command and Control Center (C3), and the National Center for Mental Health.

“We are elated and thankful that, through our continuous efforts and lobbying in Congress, we are finally able to push for these firetrucks and ambulances which will play a crucial role in serving our constituents here in Mandaluyong during times of disasters and emergencies,” Rep. Gonzales said.

“We hope that through these firetrucks, we will be able to boost our firefighters’ capabilities against fire incidents especially for high-rise buildings in the city, as well as crowded areas where elevated firefighting mechanisms would have better reach,” he added.

“The five initial ambulance units from DOH will also surely help our people and serve their health and emergency needs. These are testaments of our commitment to public service during these challenging times. Our people deserve no less,” added Rep. Gonzales, who strived to allocate funds for these since the 16th Congress.

During the 17th Congress from 2016-2019, Rep. Gonzales’s wife — Congresswoman Queenie Gonzales—made sure that the request for the budget will not be disregarded since procurement of these units will take a while. Finally, under the 18th Congress, the aerial ladder fire trucks were bid and awarded to BFP in mid-2021.

The firetrucks are diesel-fed, with six-cylinder capacity and turbocharge feature, Euro IV or Euro V Compliant, and equipped with Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system.

The ambulance units, on the other hand, have the following medical equipment and instruments: ambulance, folding, and scoop stretcher, automated external defibrillator (AED) nebulizer, portable suction machine, examining light, aneroid sphygmomanometer stethoscopes (pedia and adult), non-contact thermometer, blood-glucose meter, manual resuscitators (adult, infant, pedia), oxygen cylinder with oxygen therapy set), laryngoscope set, immobilization device, delivery set, air purifier, dashboard camera, and two cellular phones.

In September last year, 96 civilians were trapped in the burning Mega Tower residential building in Mandaluyong City and had to be airlifted and rescued by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). In December 2021, fire also razed a row of eateries, shops and apartments along Basilan street in Mandaluyong.

“These firetrucks and ambulances are essential in saving the lives of our constituents in times of distress and emergencies. Rest assured that we will continue to push for these relevant projects that would better serve our city, and would put to good use our taxpayers’ hard-earned money,” Rep. Gonzales said.

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