By Jocelyn P. Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY - Fourteen barangays including island villages of the city recently received handheld radio sets from the city government for faster communication and mobility in times of crisis and security threats.
“The initial recipients of the handheld radio sets are barangays in District 1 and island villages of District 2, where peace and order situation is volatile considering their distance from the city proper,” Vic Larato of the City Information Office (CIO) said.
Five radio sets per barangay was distributed at the City Hall conference room. The recipients are barangays Labuan, Patalon, Sinubong, Pamucutan, La Paz and Limpapa in the east coast, and the 8 island barangays of Landang Laum, Landang Gua, Tumalutab, Tigtabon, Pangapuyan, Pasilmanta, Manalipa and Busay.
The handheld radios will help capacitate the barangay officials in responding to any emergencies in terms of communication and mobility.
Larato said Mayor Cimaco hopes that with the radios, the barangay officials will become more proactive in responding to security problems in their areas, by relaying correct and verified information to the authorities the fastest time possible.