THE Alsons Development and Investment Corporation (Alsonsdev), a Davao-based real-estate developer, on Tuesday, June 21, inaugurated and turned over the 2,000 square meter satellite office of the Central 911 to the City Government of Davao in Barangay Cabantian, Buhangin, Davao City.
Located beside Alsonsdev’s residential community in Northtown, the Alsons Public Safety Complex features a two-storey Central 911 station with an infirmary and standby ambulance, a one-storey sub-station of the Buhangin police with two detention cells, and a two-storey fire station with two standby firetrucks.
No less than the Tomas Alcantara, chairman of the Alcantara Group of Companies, led the inauguration and turnover ceremony with the guest of honor Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio along with other board of directors.
"We at Alsons Dev. are pleased to turn over this 20,000 square meter public safety complex to the city government of Davao," Alcantara said in his speech before the media and guests during yesterday's inauguration and turn over ceremony.
Alcantara said that the formal talks about this project began in 2012.
The facility, according to Alcantara, serves the people residing in the areas of Cabantian, Indangan, Acacia, Tigatto, and other barangays in Buhangin.
The P40 million public safety complex had its groundbreaking ceremony last July 2015 in the presence of then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
"This is our modest contribution for Davao City to continue to be identified as one of the safety cities in the world," Alcantara said.
Rosie Dominguez, AlsonsDev executive vice-president, for her part, said the donation is their modest contribution to the city's program of public safety and security services.
"The Alsons Public Safety Complex is our way of giving back to Dabawenyos, who have been our customers, clients, partners for over 50 years. We are proud to partner with the City Government in continuing to make Davao City one of the most safest and livable cities in the world," Dominguez said.
The facility is the culmination of the memorandum of understanding which was first signed in 2013.
With the operation of the satellite office of Central 911, the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), and Central 911 to respond more faster during calamities and emergency situations.
"We are bringing the services closer to the people. They are now capable of responding on any emergencies in Buhangin which is one of the populous areas in the city," Alcantara said.
Before the construction of the facility, the nearest fire station in the area is about five kilometers away while the Central 911 in Sandawa is 18 kilometers away.
He also believe that business institutions should serve the community.
Sara, who recently took her oath of office along with her brother Paolo as the newly-elected mayor and vice-mayor, lauded the efforts of Alsons Dev.
"This will greatly benefit the community and save more lives," Sara said in her short but meaningful message.
Other guests present during the event were Davao City Councilors Al Ryan Alejandre, and Nilo "Small" Abellera, Congressman Karlo Nograles, Department of Tourism-Davao Director Roberto Alabado IV, Central 911 cheif Emmanuel Jaldon, Jr. outgoing Davao City Police Office Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao Jr., Davao City Administrator Melchor Quitain, and Police Regional Office-Davao director Senior Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan.