In a bid to further promote public safety, Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday turned over a total of 170 handheld radio sets and 10 base radios to the Zamboanga City Police Office and the Zamboanga City Fire District.

Lobregat said the purchase of these communication gadgets amounting P2.5 million was part of the city government?s efforts at mitigating the effects of the current power crisis that prompted Malaca?ang to declare the entire Mindanao under a state of calamity.

Following the declaration, the chief executive said the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC), which he chairs, had met several times to discuss some mitigating measures. In one of those meetings, the police had requested additional communication equipment because most of the crimes were committed during the rotating blackouts.

He added that the fire district had also requested similar equipment, explaining that the blackouts had caused fire incidents due to unattended candles or faulty electrical wiring, thus the emergency purchase of the handheld radios.

Lobregat turned over 150 radio units amounting to P2.07 million to the police through city police director Sr. Supt. Edwin Ocampo during turn over rites held at the City Hall conference room yesterday morning.

The number of radios turned over yesterday brings the total number of city-donated radio sets to the police to 274. The Regional Police Office has so far turned over 60 handheld radio units to the local police.

?This is part of our continuous assistance and support to the police. The number of handheld radios donated by the city to the local police is almost 5 times more than the number of radios provided by the national government?, Mayor Lobregat said.

Meanwhile, the city fire district headed by Supt. James Ramirez received 10 base radios worth P151,000 and 20 handheld radios P276,000. The communication gadgets will be distributed to the different fire sub-stations and are expected to pave the way for swift response to fire calls.

De Ocampo and Maj. Ramirez thanked Mayor Lobregat and the city government for the unceasing support to the police and the fire bureau which fall under the jurisdiction of the national government.

Aside from communication facilities, the city government under Lobregat has funded the construction of police and fire stations, purchase of transportation vehicles both for land and water, firearms, fire trucks and implemented numerous other projects intended to promote public safety. These initiatives have been commended by no less than Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who emphasized that the projects are manifestations of a well and efficiently run local government unit.

?Zamboanga City is not the richest city in the country, it is just one of the best run cities in the country?, Sec. Puno said with reference to Mayor Lobregat?s efficient fiscal management.

Meanwhile, the purchase of the communication gadgets was one of the 11 resolutions of the City Disaster Coordinating Council which were fully supported by the Sangguniang Panlungsod April 14.

Present during the turnover ceremony at City Hall conference room yesterday were some police and fire officers together with City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr., City Hall Chief Executive Assistant Mario Roca and some members of the media.