The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has partnered with cargo and logistics firm Air 21 in its drive to improve the Philippines’ disaster-preparedness capabilities.
Under the MOA signed by OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno and Air 21 owner Bert Lina, the private logistics firm will offer its assistance to the OCD through the deployment of necessary equipment in various emergency situations.
Specifically, Air 21 has offered the OCD the use of their Rapid Radio Support Vehicles, which can be immediately dispatched to disaster areas to efficiently coordinate communications between concerned government agencies.
This equipment, Lina added, is vital in case of natural disasters like Supertyphoon “Yolanda” which struck Eastern Visayas 10 years ago, during which all means of communication were destroyed.
“During that time, concerned agencies experienced difficulties because of lack of communication. At that time, we provided handheld radio UHF and VHF, and that's the time we discovered how to facilitate immediate communications and coordination was done to all rescue teams. Even the police and military used the radio communications,” he said.
Both Nepomuceno and Lina have been connected with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), as the former is a former deputy commissioner for enforcement while Lina also served as BOC commissioner.
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