Six years in the making, the Valenzuela City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (VCDRRMO) finally opens their very own Training Center, today June 27 at Barangay Punturin.

The training center is a six-storey building that houses the facilities that will strengthen the skills of the city’s disaster response team. It has High Angle Vertical Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Structural Collapse Rescue, Maze, Wall Climb, Fire Chamber, open space for physical fitness training and crashed vehicle extrication training.

Mayor REX led the ribbon cutting followed by a simulation exercise like rappelling, fire suppression, patient extrication from a car, and flying fox or cable mechanism used for transportation. These were all conducted by the VCDRRMO personnel.

VCDRRMO head Dr. Arnaldo Antonio expressed his gratitude to the outgoing Mayor, “Sa siyam na taong panunungkulan ni Mayor REX, nabigyan po tayo ng pagkakataon na palakasin at palawakin ang DRRMO. Mula sa 40 personnel noong time ni Senator WIN, naging 260 personnel na kami ngayon.” (During Mayor Rex nine-year tenure, we have been given the opportunity to strengthen and expand the DRRMO. From 40 personnel during Senator WIN’s time, we are now 260 personnel.)

Dr. Antonio added the reason of building the training center, “Ito po ay binuo para maging proper training ground sa ating mga personnel. Para magkaroon ng confidence at yung skills level nila ay mapataas natin. Natagalan man, pero sisiguruhin natin na hindi sayang ang buwis na ginamit natin dito.” (It was developed to be a proper training ground for our personnel. To have confidence and their skills level will increase. It may take some time, but we will make sure that the tax we used here is not wasted.)

Indeed, six years in the making, Mayor REX explained the reason behind why it took so long for the training center to be constructed, “Lagi kasing nahihiram yung pondo pang-develop ng training center lalo na noong nagka-COVID. Everytime na may shortfall tayo dahil ang daming gastusin sa disaster preparedness, yung budget nito ang unang laging nahihiram. Ganunpaman, huli man, magaling pa rin.” (The training center development funds were always borrowed, especially during the COVID. Every time we have a shortfall because of the amount of money spent on disaster preparedness, its budget is always borrowed first. However, too late, still good.)

Mayor REX concluded his message with an appeal to the rescuers, “Sana makikita kong lagi niyong ginagamit. Babantayan ko kayo diyan. Sa mga rescuers natin, ang mission niyo ay dapat laging handa. Hindi yung sapat  na nakaporma lang tayo pero hindi naman natin alam ang gagawin sa oras ng sakuna.” (I hope I can see you always using it. I will watch over you. To our rescuers, your mission must always be ready. It's not enough that we just formed but we don't know what to do at the time of the disaster.)

Joining Mayor REX and VCDRRMO in the event were personnel from Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Bulacan and Punturin Punong Barangay Benny Zuñiga and council.

The blessing of the training center was officiated by Rev. Fr. Julius Faa.

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