To strengthen community-level disaster preparedness, all 80 barangays in this city are receiving a multipurpose vehicle (MPV), providing local communities with an additional tool for emergency response, evacuation and other urgent needs.
The first batch of distribution, consisting of 40 brand-new Isuzu MPV units, is set for Tuesday, and the remaining units are due to be delivered this month.
According to Laoag Mayor James Bryan Q. Alcid, the one barangay, one multipurpose vehicle project is a priority program of his administration.
“Each unit is equipped with emergency blinkers, roof racks, and is clearly marked with its respective barangay, ensuring it can be utilized for various frontline services,” he said in a statement Monday.
The vehicles are expected to be used for emergency response, medical transport, disaster operations, delivery of basic services, and other barangay-related activities — bringing government services closer and faster to every Laoageño.
The city government stated that this is among the largest barangay support programs in Laoag City’s history, designed to empower barangay officials and improve their responsiveness to community needs.
For barangay officials, this means greater flexibility to respond to their constituents without waiting for a city-level vehicle to become available.
“This is a big step toward faster, more reliable service at the grassroots level,” said Roque Benjamin Ablan, president of the city’s Liga ng mga Barangay, adding that the initiative also creates a more decentralized approach to disaster preparedness.
Instead of concentrating response resources at city hall, equipment is positioned directly in communities where emergencies occur. This approach can be particularly valuable for barangays in areas vulnerable to flooding or other hazards.
Local officials and residents are typically the first to notice rising water levels, blocked roads, or families in urgent need of help.
With their own service vehicle, barangays can act while coordinating with the city’s disaster risk reduction and management authorities. (PNA)
