Individuals and institutions recognized for helping Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Volunteerism and Corporate Social Responsibility paid off for the awardees of this year’s Diamond Charter Day Outstanding Individuals and Institutions.

To mention among others, the Basak-Pardo Emergency Response (BPER) of barangay Basak-Pardo was awarded as an outstanding institution for responding to medical emergency calls and other disaster alarms such as fire, flood and earthquake.

Not only was the group awarded but its founder, Basak-Pardo Captain David Tumulak, was also recognized as Mayor’s Special Awardee.

Tumulak was personally chosen by Mayor Michael Rama for founding and continuing to manage BPER that has been in existence for four years now.

BPER responds mainly to medical emergencies but in the last two years, they have included in their priority situations, other disasters and natural calamities.

BPER has 20 volunteer paramedics and other volunteers for sea rescue and building collapse.

They have three ambulances, one of which, is a state of the art ambulance donated by the Cebu City Government during the time of then Mayor now Representative Tomas Osmeña.

They continue to receive aid from the city government only through fuel allowance.

A similar group that existed before them, the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF), also receives aid from the city in the form of financial assistance.

Tumulak said that they formed the BPER four years ago because they saw the need for the city to have an Emergency Management Service. All volunteers of BPER are residents of Basak-Pardo.

“My sincere thanks to the city government for recognizing our volunteer paramedics who are giving emergency response to the public 24 hours a day,” Tumulak said.

He encouraged other barangays to do the same.

“I invite other barangays to form the same emergency response unit as Cebu City continues to expand and grow in all aspects,” Tumulak said. Last year, BPER was able to respond to over 1,400 distress calls.

Apart from BPER, other institutions awarded were the Visayan Forum Foundation for its contribution in the fight against human trafficking, Pag-asa sa Paglaya for providing assistance to inmates and parolees, International Justice Mission for its active involvement in the fight against human trafficking and the Lupong Tagapamayapa of barangay Adlaon for their exemplary achievement in the solution of disputes filed in the barangay.

The outstanding individuals were John Owen Pages, Police Senior Inspector Ma. Theresa Macatangay for her active involvement in the fight against human trafficking, Judge Francisco Alob Seville for his display of honesty and integrity as Regional Trial Court Judge and Dr. Wyben Briones who has been very instrumental in the overwhelming decrease of dengue cases in the city and the whole Metro Cebu.

A posthumous award was conferred to a volunteer teacher at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center and the Cebu City Operation Second Chance – Mrs. Guadalupe Baring.

The Mayor’s Special Awardees were Beautiful Cebu Movement Foundation Inc. for beautifying the city streets, the Association Benevola de Cebu Inc., Dr Pericles Dakay, Hospital owner Hiroshi Akaki from Japan whose hospital donated millions worth of equipment to CCMC last year, Toyoflex Foundation for the scholarship and donation of equipment to CCMC, Metro Gaisano for its active participation in the city’s jobs fair, Police Chief Inspector Romero Santander, Engr. Juanito Magno, David Tumulak and Chester Cokaliong.  (FREEMAN)