By John Aldrin Casinas
Marikina City has strengthened its search and rescue capability as it activated on Monday its own Search and Rescue Unit (SRU) under the supervision of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro presents the rescue equipment and hydraulic tools he donated to the Bureau of Fire Protection-Marikina, which will be used by its newly activated Search and Rescue Unit. (Photo by Marikina LGU/MANILA BULLETIN)
Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro and BFP-National Capital Region (BFP-NCR) director Chief Supt. Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu led the activation of the new search and rescue unit of the city.
According to the BFP-NCR chief, Marikina City was the first local government unit to have a fully activated specialized search and rescue unit under the supervision of the BFP.
“Ito po yung pinaka-unang local government unit na nag activate po kami ng special rescue unit like this one,” Kwan Tiu was quoted as saying in a statement.
Kwan Tiu said the unit is composed of 14 highly trained personnel from the BFP-Marikina specialized in high and low angle rescue, retrieval, ropemanship, and other special operations.
The BFP-SRU, he explained, is an elite force that is equivalent to the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police.
Its main function is to locate and rescue victims who were either trapped or needed to be rescued from buildings or structures, he further said.
In a statement, Teodoro said he donated rescue equipment and hydraulic tools to BFP-Marikina which will be used by the newly activated unit.
The BFP-NCR has also turned over its own rescue truck to the Marikina City government to be used by the search and rescue unit.
Photos shared to the media showed that members of the SRU demonstrated their skills in high and low angle rescue during the program after the traditional Monday flag-raising activity.