27 police stations get rubber boats

LINGAYEN - Twenty-seven police stations in the province were reinforced with inflatable rubber boats in preparation for the rainy season.

Police Provincial Director Percival Barba received the boats from Ilocos Region Police Director Orlando Mabutas in a turnover activity on July 30.

The recipients are the police stations of Dasol, Aquilar, Bugallon, Lingayen, Urbiztondo, Binmaley, Bayambang, Calasiao, Sta., Barbara, San Carlos City, Mapandan, Manaoag, Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Alcala, Bautista, Binalonan, Sto. Tomas, Urdaneta City, Villasis, Rosales, San Nicolas, Sta. Maria, Tayug, San Quintin, and Umingan.

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There are also units for the provinces of La Union, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte.

All of these areas were submerged during the flood in October last year during the onslaught of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

Mabutas said the rubber boats came from Camp Crame.

He recalled that during floods, police used improvised floating materials for their rescue operations as the minimal number of rubber boats from other agencies could not attend to all local government in need.

With police stations having their own rubber boats, rescue and evacuation operations will be easier and safer for both the policemen and those to be evacuated.

Barba said each of the rubber boats has eight to 10 persons seating capacity. It has complete accessories such as survival kit, thermal blankets, first aid medicines, static rope, and others.

Meanwhile, all the local government units at the fourth district (Dagupan City, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, Manaoag, and San Fabian) are now equipped with rubber boats.

These were given by former representative Jose de Venecia Jr. not long after the flood.

The mayors turned these over to the respective police stations. They also helped out in the training of the policemen designated to man the floating equipment. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre)