INAASAHANG lalakas ang pagtugon ng Mandaluyong City sa emergency situation matapos i-turnover ni Deputy Speaker Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II ang dalawang espesyal na firetrucks at limang ambulansiya sa Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) at ilang barangays sa gitna ng patuloy na problemang hatid ng coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic at mga sunog kamakailan sa lungsod.

Dalawang yunit ng 54-meter aerial ladder firetrucks na kayang umakyat ng 18-palapag na gusali ang ibinigay sa BFP Mandaluyong sa isang seremonya na pinamunuan ni Gonzales at kanyanbg maybahay na si Queenie, at mga opisyal ng lungsod sa Greenfield District.

Sa pamamagitan ng proyekto ni Gonzales sa Department of Health (DoH), ibinigay rin ng kongresista ang limang ambulansiya na nagkakahalaga ng P2.4 milyon bawat isa sa Barangay Addition Hills, Barangay Hulo, Barangay Vergara, Command and Control Center (C3), at 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,” ani Gonzales.

“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,” ayon kay Gonzales.

“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,” dagdag ni Gonzales na nagsikap nang husto na malaanan ng pondo ang mga proyekto sapul noong 2016.

Noong 17th Congress o mula 2016-2019, tiniyak rin ng maybahay ni Gonzales na si dating Rep. Queenie Gonzales na hindi mababalewala ang kahilingan na pondohan ang mga ito at magtatagal lamang ang proeso ng subasta.

Sa kalagitnaan ng 2021 o 18th Congress, naisakatuparan na ang subasta at awarding ng aerial ladder fire trucks sa BFP.

Ginagamitan ng diesel ang firetrucks na may six-cylinder capacity at turbocharge feature, Euro IV o Euro V Compliant, at mayroong Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system.

Sa kabilang banda, nagtataglay naman ang mga ambulansiya ng medical equipment at instruments: ambulance, folding at scoop stretcher, automated external defibrillator (AED) nebulizer, portable suction machine, examining light, aneroid sphygmomanometer stethoscopes (pedia at 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, at dalawang cellular phones.

Noong Setyembre ng nakaraang taon, 96 sibilyan ang naipit sa nasunog na Mega Tower residential building sa Mandaluyong City at kinailangang ilipad at iligtas ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Noong Disyembre 2021, tinupok rin ng sunog ang mga kainan, shops at apartments sa kahabaan ng Basilan street sa Mandaluyong City.

“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,” ani Gonzales.