House Deputy Speaker and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II on Friday, Jan. 28, 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.
Gonzales turned over the two units of 54-meter aerial ladder firetrucks and ambulances worth P2.4 million each, with city officials lauding his efforts in bolstering Mandaluyong’s defenses against the continued onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fires usually threaten during the summer season.
The firetrucks are capable of fighting blazes occurring in buildings as high as 18-storeys. The ambulances, on the other hand, are fully equipped with state-of-the art emergency medical instruments.
Aside from Gonzales, the turnover ceremony held in Greenfield District was also attended by his wife, former Rep. Queenie Gonzales, Mayor Menchie Abalos and city other officials.
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,” said Rep. 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,” the House official 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 Gonzales, who strived to allocate funds for these since the 16th Congress.
During the 17th Congress from 2016-2019, then 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.