Marikina, firm beef up Rescue 161 team

The Marikina City government has beefed up its disaster response capability for the rainy season with recent training courses for its Rescue 161 responders and fresh donations from the private sector.

The Rescue 161 hotline run by the Marikina City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office seeks to reduce to at least five minutes the response time for emergency calls for medical, firefighting and police assistance as well as emergency transport service 24 hours a day.

The local government, in partnership with Ortigas & Co., developer of Circulo Verde, recently conducted a four-module training and refresher course for about 30 first-level responders under Rescue 161.

The company also donated 16 Catamaran-type plastic rescue boats along with life jackets to be distributed among the barangays (villages).

“Ortigas & Co. and Circulo Verde are keen on supporting disaster preparedness efforts in communities that are considered susceptible to the effects of natural calamities. We hope that our contribution to the Marikina local government would make an impact and prove useful when the need arises,” said Joey Santos, senior vice president and general manager of Ortigas & Co.’s real estate division.

In response, Marikina Vice Mayor Fabian Cadiz said the city was “extremely grateful for the assistance being extended by Ortigas & Co. to the city and its people.”

The Marikina disaster management office continues to accept volunteers from government employees, city residents and other interested parties, who will receive first-aid and basic rescue training. For more information, visit marikina.gov.ph/governmentpages/161.asp.