By Gideon C. Corgue
MOLAVE, Zamboanga del Sur – The municipal government here recently acquired two rescue boats to be used during natural disaster or emergencies.
Municipal Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) action officer Jerry Delos Santos said a bigger rescue boat worth P98,000 was built through the MDRRMC and the smaller one was donated by Mr. Proceso Cadavero, the municipal civil registrar.
The rescue boats were turned-over to the MDRRMC Operation Center located beside the Molave Gym.
Delos Santos said the rescue boats would be used by the MDRRMC personnel in times of disaster especially during flood to avert the loss of life and property of the residents.
“The acquisition of rescue boats will help mitigate the impact of natural disaster in our municipality,” Delos Santos said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Ireneo Glepa, the MDRRMC chair, said he was happy that the plan to acquire rescue boat was realized.
Glepa said the acquisition of rescue boats was incorporated in the financial and work plan of the municipal government.
The boat, which could carry up to 30 persons, was tested on the seas of Bara, Tudela, Misamis Occidental.
Municipal Civil Registrar Proceso Cadavero, a member of the rescue team, said he was encouraged to donate his small fishing boat to MDRRMC as the municipality badly needs the same should any disaster occur.
Glepa lauded Cadavero’s concern saying that his donation is a great gesture worthy of emulation by the residents.
It can be recalled that in the past years, Molave has been experiencing floods due to climate change.
The flood, which inundated several barangays and rice fields, occurred last year but no casualties reported.