City Hall gets fire truck from Korean city

CEBU, Philippines – Following a series of fire incidents in the past days, the Cebu City government acquired yesterday a mini-fire truck that was donated by the South Korean city of Yeosu.

Acting Mayor Michael Rama thanked Yeosu City officials for helping the city boost its capability in combatting fire through the donation.

Although the donated fire truck is not brand new, Rama said it can still be useful for the city. In fact, Mayor on-leave Tomas Osmeña decided that it will be assigned to the South Road Properties.

The city is expected to form a fire brigade to man the fire fighting equipment, which could be very useful in responding to areas where roads are narrow.

“Maayo ni kay maka-penetrate g’yod bisan gagmay ang karsada. Daghang lugar dinhi sa syudad nga dili masulod sa dagkong fire trucks,” a City Hall employee said.

Rama said the city needs more fire trucks as he wanted to deploy a fire truck in every thickly residential area.

Yeosu City, located in south Jeolla province, South Korea, is a sister city of Cebu City, which is the reason why its officials have decided to donate the fire truck to the city.

According to Yeosu's official website, Cebu City is the only city in the Philippines that has a sister city relationship with the South Korean city. 

The Korean city has three different City Halls. In 1998, the cities of Yeosu and Yeocheon, along with Yeocheon County, had formed the unified city of Yeosu. – Rene U. Borromeo/LPM (THE FREEMAN)