PH, South Korea partner for 1,500 new firetrucks - DILG

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Thursday that it will deploy 1,500 firetrucks nationwide next year through an agreement with South Korea.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the firetrucks will be acquired through a government-to-government agreement with South Korea.

The DILG, the Office of the President, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Bureau of Fire Protection are coordinating with the South Korean government for the acquisition, he added.

“Within one and a half years, kumpleto na lahat ang munisipyo, wala na tayong magiging problema. Kumpleto na sa buong Pilipinas," said Remulla in a statement.

(Within one and a half years, every municipality will be fully equipped, and we won't have any more problems. It will be complete across the entire Philippines.)

“This is the cleanest transaction that is possible with the best possible benefit sa lahat ng mga Pilipino."

(This is the cleanest transaction possible, bringing the best possible benefit to all Filipinos.)

Meanwhile, the DILG turned over 20 Class 1 Unified 911 emergency response motorcycles to Police Regional Office 6 at Camp General Martin Teofilo B. Delgado in Iloilo City.

Of the 20 motorcycles, 10 were given to the Aklan Police Provincial Office and 10 others were turned over to the Iloilo City Police Office.

The DILG said the motorcycles will reinforce the emergency response following the rollout of the Unified 911.

The department said the system relies on geolocation to route callers to local emergency teams who can converse in the area's native language.

"Lahat ng mga language na ’yan, kung saan ka naroroon, kapag na-geotag ang tawag ninyo, ang sasagot sa inyo ay ang local language na," said Remulla.

(All of those languages—wherever you are located, once your call is geotagged, the person who answers will speak the local language.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA News