Parañaque gets 16 new medics for rescue unit

Sixteen graduates of a rigorous two-month training course on medical emergency joined the newly formed Parañaque Elite Rescue Unit (PERU), a group of highly-trained men and women tasked to attend to accidents, disasters, calamities, and any other emergency.

Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. personally gave them their certificates of completion in simple ceremonies held at the San Antonio gymnasium.

All 16 medics now compose the pioneering members of PERU, a brainchild of Parañaque city health officer Dr. Olga Virtusio and PERU team leader Dr. Teodoro Gonzales, which Bernabe supports in terms of logistics and equipment.

Bernabe expressed high hopes that with the formation of PERU, Parañaque will be a safer city for its residents.

“Disasters and calamities, natural or man-made do not only take a toll in lives, they result in even more serious economic consequences. Lack of disaster preparedness can easily wipe out or stall development projects,” he said.

The 16 graduates are Jhonas Anguilan, Levi de Loyola Jr., Viovanni Drapite, Renee Ebuña, Emilia Fabian, Maricris Faustino, Frederick Ferrer, Jon Ibarra, Flaviano Jimenez Jr., Gregorio Jimenez, Jo Albert Nery, Ramil Parba, Leonilo Rusiana, Ferdinand Silvano, Mike Allan Teodoro, and Noel Villanueva. – Michael Punongbayan