‘Ladder truck acquired in 2000’: Labella asks for whereabouts of equipment donated to city

CEBU, Philippines - It's not the first time that the Cebu City government has acquired an aerial ladder firetruck, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said.

In a letter dated yesterday, Labella requested the General Services Office to provide information as to the whereabouts of the aerial ladder firetruck and a water tanker that the city acquired for free from Japan in 2000.

"The undersigned requests your good office to provide for the whereabouts of one (1) unit of aerial ladder firetruck and one (1) unit of water tanker donated by the City of Iki, Japan to the City of Cebu on the year 2000," the letter addressed to GSO officer-in-charge Ronaldo Malacora read.

This followed after Labella read a news article (not The FREEMAN) stating that it was the first time for the city to have an aerial ladder truck.

The city government purchased a P57 million aerial ladder truck, which will be turned over to the Bureau of Fire Protection on Monday.

"Kato bang nigawas sa news gahapon nga first time nato nga duna ta'y ladder truck, it was not true because I was able to get for free from the Iki Island. This one they bought from Korea is worth P57 million," he said.

Labella told reporters yesterday that such equipment was donated to the city at no cost to the city government through his efforts, together with former councilor Rodolfo Estella.

The fire truck and water tanker were also turned over to the fire department.

"If this was issued to the Bureau of Fire, this should not be assigned to any local government for it was intentionally, purposely donated to the City of Cebu," Labella added.

The vice mayor will also ask the BFP after the GSO provides a reply to his query about the equipment. Malacora is currently on sick leave.

City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council as well as public information officer Nagiel Bañacia said that the gigantic ladder truck intended for rescue operation and can reach up to an 18-storey building was delivered to the city government last October 6.

It was purchased by the previous administration and was charged under the city's disaster funds.

Since the equipment arrived, BFP personnel and city engineers have been undergoing training on how to properly maneuver the truck.

In a phone interview, Bañacia said that the formal turnover of the equipment has been rescheduled to Monday since the regional director of the BFP will not be around today.

On Monday, Bañacia said, he hopes that Mayor Tomas Osmeña will administer the formal turnover, which will be held at Sugbo Grounds at the South Road Properties. (FREEMAN)