MMDA deploys 20 more emergency container vans to ‘fault’ areas

To augment the existing emergency container vans deployed in critical areas in the metro, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) began deploying on Tuesday 20 more vehicles containing emergency rescue equipment to areas traversed by the West Valley Fault.

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino said in a statement that these disaster response equipment-filled storage units (DREFSU) would add to the existing 22 vans already prepositioned in strategic areas in the metro like Edsa at the corner of Roxas Boulevad, Edsa-Ortigas Aveue, Balintawak-Cloverleaf, Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City, Navotas, Valenzuela, and Abad Santos and Nagtahan in Manila.

This time, the additional vans will be placed in areas in the metro where the West Valley Fault traverses like the cities Pasig, Quezon, Marikina, Makati, Taguig and Muntinlupa, according to the MMDA chair.

As described by MMDA, these vans will be useful during a disaster like an earthquake because they contain 56 personal safety equipment tools, which can be used for rescuing people trapped under collapsed structure.

Each van will contain 20 safety boxes, costing P30,000 each, filled with sledge hammers, hydraulic tools for cutting and digging through debris, fire-fighting equipment, spline boards, which will be utilized to transport injured individuals, and lime to be used for deodorizing corpses.

“It is important to have the right tools and the right training to save more lives,” added Tolentino.

The agency has urged all 1,706 barangays in Metro Manila to have their own rescue equipment storage vans, which will be very helpful in case a projected magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit Metro Manila.

The prepositioning of these rescue equipment is part of the agency’s earthquake contingency plan called Oplan Metro Yakal, which identified four possible evacuation areas in Metro Manila in case of a strong quake, which includes the Veteran’s golf course in Quezon City, Villamor golf course in Pasay City, the Wack Wack golf course in Mandaluyong City and the Intramuros golf course in Manila.

Under the disaster contingency plan, the MMDA has set “procedures and guidelines for concerted action and coordination” among local government units, government offices and other sectors of the society. (Maricar B. Brizuela, Philippine Daily Inquirer)