NDRRMC turns over 5 rescue boats to 8ID

By NEIL D. LOPIDO, PIA 8
October 27, 2011

TACLOBAN CITY  –  National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director and Civil Defense Administrator, Undersecretary Benito T. Ramos acknowledged, on October 27, five inflatable rescue boats donated by the World Food Programme (WFP) to NDRRMC and handed them over to the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas for use in disaster response and rescue operations in the Region.

USec Ramos, in his message during the simple turn-over ceremony, acknowledged the World Food Programme of the United Nations’ deputy country director to the Philippines Mr. Asaka Nyangara and the WFP’s head of logistics, Mr. Dragoslav Djuraskovic who facilitated the local procurement of the inflatable rescue boats with paddles.

He said this is not the first time that WFP has helped the country to capacitate the government for disaster response. He disclosed that during the latest calamities that flooded Bulacan, WFP also turned over to the Bulacan army, 5 rescue boats; and just recently, turned over a generator set to the province of Isabela to light up an entire municipality.

The NDRRMC executive director said that he immediately thought of turning over the rescue boat for Eastern Visayas to the Philippine Army knowing that the army and the PNP are always the first to respond in any disaster situation not only in Leyte but also in the island of Samar.

He said he is aware that there is insufficient disaster equipment in the Region because he is always flooded with requests, as he is suppose to orchestrate work and coordination in times of calamities and disaster.

WFP Deputy Country Director Mr. Asaka Nyangara, in his hand over message, expressed the continued commitment of the international humanitarian community to complement the efforts of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines in addressing the consequences of disasters that beset the country.

In his response, MajGen. Mario F. Chan, commander of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said this is a “dream come true” and a “promise fulfilled.” He said this is the fulfillment of his dream to have more equipment to enhance the capability of the army rescue team to save more people of Eastern Visayas from the hazards that calamities bring to the Region which is disaster-prone.

The 8th ID Commander said this is a promise fulfilled because it is the fulfillment of the personal promise made to him by Usec Ramos, to capacitate the army to better respond to the people’s call for rescue in times of disaster.