IN A move to fast track the response of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in any sea-related emergencies here, the Iloilo City Government will finance the construction of a boat ramp at Bo. Obrero, Lapuz district.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III and Capt. Allan Victor Dela Vega, PCG commander of Western Visayas, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Thursday, November 22, for the construction of slipway or boat ramp that costs P1 million.
Espinosa said the boat ramp aims to address emergency response in the coastal barangays of Bo. Obrero, Hinactacan, and Ingore, and that the PCG can conveniently use it for their water assets during emergency, disasters, and search and rescue operations.
“Our commitment to Coast Guard is to help them in any way we can in their operations. This will also lessen their response time since they don’t need to go to fishing port and unload their emergency boats there,” Espinosa said.
The boat ramp will also address drowning and other accidents especially during storm surges.
Data showed there were 21 cases of drowning and 17 boats were capsized from 2015 to 2017.
“Part of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Mayor’s Office and the Philippine Coast Guard intention is to find ways on how to improve the response time of our rescue units. One of the concerns in the area is the Iloilo-Guimaras route wherein almost 6,000 passengers per day are passing there, so we have identified it to be a strategic area,” Dela Vega said.
Espinosa added the city government will also donate one vehicle for coast guard’s K9 unit which will help ensure that no contrabands and illegal drugs will be shipped into the metropolis. (PR)