The Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and management Office (PCDRRMO) has recently operationalized its Unmanned Firefighting Vehicle (UFM). This is but only 1 of the efforts being undertaken by the city government of Pasig.
Pasig City is part of the catch basin between the Sierra Madre Mountain Range and Manila. Together with Cainta, Pateros, Taguig and Marikina, Pasig city is prone to flooding annually because of water cascading down from the mountains of Montalban.
During the floods caused by Tropical Storm Ondoy, Pasig City was greatly affected and thousands of its residents had to evacuate. This brought home hard lessons learned.
Through the impetus of Mayor Robert Eusebio, Pasig City built up the capacity of its PCDRRM by training its personnel, clearing up waterways and drainages, investing in equipment and infrastructure. This was implemented by PCDRRMO Head Ritchi C. Angeles
Those of note are:
1. A City Command Center (C3) that serves as an operations center that monitors disasters, emergencies and even crime.
2. Training of personnel in Incidence Command System (ICS) and rescue operations.
3. Pumping Stations. During Ondoy in 2009, Pasig City had only 2 pumping stations. Now it has 23.
4. Communications. Pasig City has an emergency communication system that will function even when all telcos are down due to disasters.
5. Equipment acquired include aerial ladder, communications van, amphibious vehicle with jetski, a fireboat, 40 footer mobile kitchen, firetruck with hydraulic platform, mobile command post, mobile shower trailer and other equipment needed for rescue and relief operations.
Pasig is also vulnerable to earthquakes since the West valley fault traverses the city. The objective of the city and its PDRRMO is to be the best prepared city in the country when it comes to disasters and emergencies.
Pasig City has been awarded by the Gawad Kalasag Hall of Fame by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as Best Government Emergency Response Managers in 2012, and Best City Disaster Council in 2013 – 2016.
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