The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already begun checking equipment assets in Metro Manila to hasten the government’s disaster and emergency response.
DPWH Secretary Roger Mercado with Senior Undersecretary Rafael Yabut inspected recently available assets at the DPWH National Capital Region (NCR) equipment depot along General Santos Avenue, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City to ensure prompt mobilization during disaster and provide immediate assistance and support to nearby surrounding areas of NCR.
“At my direction, we started checking and monitoring the management of available equipment.”
“At my direction, we started checking and monitoring the management of available equipment including ancillary facilities and determine the equipment operational status and demand requirements,” Mercado said.
Also present at the inspection were DPWH Undersecretary Maximo Carvajal, Assistant Secretary Wilfredo S. Mallari, and DPWH NCR Director Nomer Abel Canlas.
The public works chief lauded the DPWH-NCR and Bureau of Equipment for securing the latest, state-of-the-art machinery, ready to be used for disaster risk reduction and management.
“With our available equipment assets, we are more than prepared to aid our kababayans in times of disasters,” the public works head said.
DPWH equipment may be basic highway maintenance equipment and a quick response equipment at the same time.
Basic highway maintenance equipment are essential to the execution of the mandated maintenance activities of the Department.
Quick response equipment, on the other hand, are with the primary purpose of restoring to normal traffic and safely passable affected national roads after calamity and emergency situations.
Under the DPWH process, all quick response equipment are mandatorily dispatched to affected locations within the Region and adjacent provinces including those forecast to be affected by disaster such as typhoons.
Since “Odette” swept through Mindanao and Visayas in mid-December last year, DPWH equipment from other engineering units in the provinces provided augmentation in the clearing of debris-strewn roads.
For the whole-of-nation approach, 237 equipment and 1,644 manpower were deployed by DPWH.
For the whole-of-nation approach, 237 equipment and 1,644 manpower were deployed by DPWH.
The Department continues to exhaust all means and available government resources to facilitate the distribution of food packs and needed materials for our typhoon-stricken countrymen.
About 43 additional augmentation trucks also helped other government agencies and sectors to expedite delivery of necessary assistance to reach the affected residents.
Bound by a strong commitment to serve and help, DPWH showcase the spirit of Bayanihan (cooperation), and collaboration with no less than Mercardo handing over the pooled cash donation of officials and employees to respective LGUs for relief operations in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Dinagat, Surigao del Norte, Siargao, and Southern Leyte.
