Bataan government, to buy more rescue gears

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – The provincial government of Bataan will purchase additional rescue equipment and extraction devices following a road accident last week in Bataan Highway.

According to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Audie Atienza, the collision of a minibus and trailer truck on September 16 made them realize the needed rescue paraphernalia in such critical accidents. “This inopportune incident taught us lessons and opened an opportunity to better serve during disasters,” Atienza, also former director of Philippine National Police (PNP)-Bataan, said. “We learned of the needed equipment that we don’t have. Together with the offices in line with public safety and security, we will create a protocol for these types of accident,” he added.

Currently equipped with rescue paraphernalia largely for flood scenarios, PDRRMO is now looking to purchase, among others, spreader, cutter, additional stretchers, aluminum ladder, floodlights and custom-made ambulance for road disasters.

A protocol, Atienza disclosed, will be crafted to respond fast and efficiently with precarious road accidents involving quick rescue of victims jammed in the collision. This came after 46 victims were rushed to various hospitals in the drizzly night of the head-on collision of the minibus and trailer truck along Bataan Highway near Bataan National High School. The driver of the minibus was the lone casualty.

PNP-Balanga chief PSupt. Frederick Obar said the driver of the truck was incarcerated under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in the Capitol compound, facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide, and physical injuries.

As to the cause of the accident, Obar said there were conflicting statements as the truck driver reported that he was conversing with his side passenger when they hit the minibus, but the latter said the driver fell asleep.