On April 27, Thursday a turnover ceremony of the rescue vehicle was held at the Barangay gymnasium in Binga. It was attended by the Municipal Mayor Amy R. Alvarez, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer (MMDRMO) Orlando C. Estoya, Barangay Councilor Grace Tanaya, and Barangay Captain Nerie A. Varquez.

“Yung matagal na po nating pinapangarap na magkaroon po tayo ng sariling sasakyan... Napakahirap po. Ang Municipal Government po, sila po ang tumugon sa atin pong mga problema,” Varquez said during the ceremony.

Barangay Captain Nerie Varquez accepted the keys from the Municipal Mayor Amy R. Alvarez and the Usufruct Agreement was signed by barangay Councilor Grace Tanaya. On the agreement, the Barangay will be responsible in maintaining the vehicle in good condition, fuel, and cleaning it while the municipal government will take care of the repairing of the vehicle if ever, in the future it will need mechanical service.

According to Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Orlando (MDRRMO) Orlando C. Estoya “Gagamitin iyan sa pag-iikot, roving, pagsisita sa mga hindi naka-mask, sa [pagpapatupad] ng mga COVID protocols natin, ‘yung curfew hours natin. Iyan po ay makakatulong sa mga barangay tanod para po maabot ang lahat ng parte ng barangay sa kanilang peace and order activities. Lalong-lalo naman sa emergency response, kapag ka may dadalhin sa hospital – hindi na po sila tatawag sa Poblacion [upang] humingi ng rescue.”

“Ang responsibility ng Kapitan sa sasakyan ay mapanatiling maayos, laging malinis, hindi magagamit sa personal na lakad. Ito ay solely sa mga emergency response at gawaing opisyal ng barangay,” Estoya added.

Meanwhile, Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Rustico Dangue, shared an inspirational message and thanked the Mayor and the administration for succeeding in giving rescue vehicle unit within the barangay to give ease for the barangay officials to serve the locals in much-advanced vehicle.

“Bahagi ng planong pangkaunlaran ang pagliligtas ng buhay ng mamamayan at ng kanyang mga pag-aari. Mayroong isang katibayan – sa araw na ito ay ibinahagi ng Pamahalaang Bayan sa pamamagitan ni Mayor Amy ang isang sasakyan na kung saan ay simbolo ito ng commitment ng isang Punong Bayan sa kanyang mamamayan.”

Municipal Mayor Amy R. Alvarez said in her speech “We’ve been working hard. Even if you’re the last barangay here in San Vicente sa norte, you are not the least – dahil kayo ang unang binigyan namin ng pick-up.” She also said that she was working on making electricity available in areas that have no electricity yet.

This rescue unit will help the Barangay officials and staff to do the rescue operation and other services that the local residents needed. This vehicle that was given to Barangay Binga is one of the Barangays that benefited from the municipal government. The barangays including Barangay Sto. Niño and Caruray in the Municipality of San Vicente will also be given a rescue vehicle within the following days.