Navotas mayor wants residents to be ready for disasters

Mayor John Rey Tiangco Thursday advised Navoteños to always be prepared for any disaster.

"Being a coastal city, Navotas is vulnerable to natural disasters. We need to prepare and empower our people through continuous awareness and education campaign," he said during a virtual forum entitled "Handa sa Sakuna."

"While calamities are fearsome, being caught off guard is more terrifying. We may not know when a disaster will strike, but being prepared helps ensure that lives and properties will be saved,” he said.

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The forum, spearheaded by the Navotas City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, was conducted in celebration of this year’s National Disaster Resilience Month.

Resource speakers included Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Geoscience and Disaster Risk Reduction Communication Specialist, Charmaine Villamil; Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Public information Unit’s Information and Science Officer, Bernard Punzalan; and Bureau of Fire Protection – Navotas Finance Unit Chief, SINSP. Glenn Mayugao.

“Aside from equipping our people with the knowledge on disaster preparedness and safety, we also strive to construct facilities and secure supplies and equipment necessary for effective disaster risk reduction and management,” Tiangco said.

Last Wednesday, the city government inaugurated the staging area of the Navotas Rescue Center at Brgy. NBBS Dagat-dagatan. 

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The facility is expected to make the movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies easy and smooth during disasters and other emergencies.

Navotas also recently inaugurated its renovated central fire station. Built in 1971, the station can now accommodate four fire trucks.