Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon sent off on July 28 a team of volunteers from the Muntinlupa K9 Search and Rescue (SAR) to Abra which was severely damaged by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on July 27.
The K9s, or police dogs, will assist in search and rescue operations in collapsed buildings and areas hit by landslides in Abra, according to Biazon.
He said the Muntinlupa City government also provided a vehicle for the group.
“The MMDA K9 Corps, the mother unit of the Muntinlupa K9 SAR Volunteers, help each other in saving people affected by disasters,” the mayor said.
In this situation, he said, Muntinlupa’s K9 teams assist wherever they are needed. The training of the group is being done at Pacwood in Barangay Tunasan led by the Office of the Veterinarian.
“The availability of K9 dogs is very important in times of disaster like earthquake because they find survivors who may be trapped in collapsed buildings,” said Biazon.
He said when he was still a congressman, he pursued the “Canine Volunteer Law” that would establish the “Canine Volunteer Program” in the country that will help in maintaining safety and security especially in search and rescue operations during disasters.