To prepare against all kinds of disaster, Valenzuela City has been continually upgrading its facilities and disaster response equipment. Trainings are also regularly conducted to keep rescue personnel updated with vital skills needed during emergencies.

Through the local government’s support and perseverance to advance its emergency response, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has once again awarded the Valenzuela City Risk Reduction and Management Office (VCDRRMO) – Search and Rescue Unit (SRU) with the Gawad KALASAG for Government Emergency Response System (GEMS) for the second consecutive year. 

HAZMAT trucks and decontamination shower system
Hazardous Material (HazMat) Apparatus Trucks are used in responding to emergencies that involve potentially hazardous materials. 

To prepare for such emergency, the city allocated a budget of PhP 3.3 Million for the purchase of the Hazmat Truck, while a sum of PhP 6.18 Million was allocated for the accompanying Decontamination Shower System and additional equipment like the Hazmat suits (Level A, B and C). 

Considering that Valenzuela is an industrial city where numerous facilities store or utilize chemicals in manufacturing, VCDRRMO Head, Dr. Arnaldo Antonio said, “It is highly probable for leakage or discharge of these materials to happen.” 

Utilizing these equipment will enable personnel to response quickly without jeopardizing their own safety. “For instance,” Dr. Antonio added, “in case of fire involving chemicals, the suits will protect responders from splatters of liquids and inhalation of gases, therefore delivering advance action at the moment the emergency arises.” 

The VCDRRMO is also set to purchase an additional PhP 1.5 Million worth of complementary accessories for the HazMat truck to enhance its emergency response efforts. 

Rescue personnel will also undergo various HazMat skills training to be conducted come the year 2018, to update their knowledge in scenarios that involve handling hazardous materials like chemical fires, toxic spills or contaminated facilities. 

Sirens for early warning
Aside from the Hazmat Truck, the local government also invested about PhP 11 Million in an early warning system to help alert Valenzuelanos during emergencies. These are installed in 11 key areas in the city to boost its disaster preparedness efforts. 

The sirens are strategically located in areas where it would reach the maximum number of residents in the area. The early warning system, composed of massive speakers and sirens, can be remotely activated from the Allied Local Evacuation and Emergency Response Teams (ALERT) Center in Barangay Malinta. Warnings and instructions before and during emergencies shall be announced through the sirens, such as during typhoons and earthquake. 

The sirens are located at:
1. Punturin 3S Center
2. Polo 3S Center
3. Ugong 3S Center
4. Canumay East- Libis Covered Court
5. Gen. T. de Leon- Independence Covered Court
6. Marulas Public Market
7. Marulas Daycare Center- Elysian
8. Viente Reales - Luis Francisco Elementary School
9. Tagalag Elementary School
10. Malinta National High School
11. Valenzuela City Fire Station

Additional sirens are set to be installed in more barangays throughout the city in the coming months. 

Small Search and Rescue (SAR) vehicles were also purchased to enable swift response in innermost communities where streets are narrow.