THE City Government of Bacolod acquired a dump truck and backhoe loader combine worth P18 million for the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).

The two new equipment were turned over to the CDRRMO yesterday in rites held at the Bacolod Government Center grounds led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran.

Executive Assistant Jose Maria Vargas, cluster head for disaster management, said the P18 million was taken from the CDRRMO’s 2018 budget.

He said the dump truck worth P5 million and the backhoe loader worth P13 million were purchased from Europe and were shipped here.

“This new equipment, a Turkey brand, will be used in emergency and calamity cases such earthquake, flood control among others,” he added.

Vargas noted the backhoe loader with rock crusher is a new model and it’s a big help to the CDRRMO.

Vargas said they also assigned drivers to operate and maintain the units.

“We have to be responsible in using this equipment because it’s a big help in disaster response,” he said.

This year, the CDRRMO is also planning to purchase an additional rapid response vehicle, boom truck, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

Last year, the CDRRMO already installed about 39 high-definition CCTV cameras in all entry and exit points of Bacolod such as the flyovers in Barangay Bata and Araneta-Magsaysay as well as the areas of Barangays Sum-ag, Alijis, Circumferential Road, and others.

Vargas said the CCTVs are a big help to monitor traffic accidents, floods, and crime incidents. (MAP)