CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 18 — Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10, Department of Budget and Management (DBM)-10, and Senate President Miguel Zubiri turned over the first batch of Disaster Response and Rescue Vehicles to the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) of Cagayan de Oro City, earlier today.

The rescue vehicles will help the barangays of CDO conduct prompt and proactive disaster responses should there be disasters or impending hazards in the area.

DILG Local Government Capability Development Division (LGCDD) Division Chief Hazel L. Occeña stressed that the barangays are the first responders to calamities, hence, she highlighted that disaster responses should be strengthened at the barangay level.

“Dili dapat nato kalimtan nga ang barangay ang una nga muresponde sa mga hazard ug disaster nga maagian sa ilang komunidad […] mag hatag kini (rescue vehicles) og dako kaayo nga tabang sa kapasidad sa atong barangays,” she expressed.

The projects were funded under the Local Government Support Fund – Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU) program of the National Government that directly provides financial assistance to LGUs in order to support various priority programs and projects that are necessary for the delivery of basic services.

Meanwhile, Senator Zubiri reiterated that rescue vehicles should be used ‘not only during disasters and post-disaster but also rescue preparedness.’

Through Local Budget Circular (LBC) No. 142 and 150, the DILG shall be responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of actual project implementation to LGUs, as such, the DBM shall be the approving agency for the release of funds to the identified LGUs. (DILG ORD / M. Bacud)