MOBILE COMMAND AND CONTROL VEHICLE. Bulacan provincial officials headed by Governor Daniel Fernando (second from left) and Vice Governor Alexis Castro (extreme right) pose with the new mobile command and control vehicle (MOCCOV) from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in Malolos City on Monday (Dec. 5, 2022). The DOST turned over the vehicle to help strengthen Bulacan's local disaster preparedness and post-pandemic recovery capacities. (Photo courtesy of the DOST-Bulacan)
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has provided the mobile command and control vehicle (MOCCOV) to this province in line with its continuing efforts to strengthen the local disaster preparedness and post-pandemic recovery capacities of the communities.
The provincial government of Bulacan, through Governor Daniel Fernando formally received the vehicle during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium here.
DOST-Bulacan provincial director Angelita Parungao said on Tuesday that Bulacan is the first local government unit in Central Luzon that received the PHP16.8-million MOCCOV.
“Ang MOCCOV ay makakatulong sa pagpapaigting at pagpapalakas ng kahandaan ng lalawigan sa pagkokontrol sa mga gagawing aksyon at mabilis na pagtugon sa posibleng epekto ng kalamdidad o trahedya (The MOCCOV will help intensify and strengthen the province's readiness to control action and quickly respond to the possible effect of calamity or tragedy),” Parungao said in a social media post.
Fernando thanked DOST for its support to the province, particularly to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
“Lubos po ang aming pasasalamat sa malaking tulong na ito sa rescue response ng probinsiya. Sa teknolohiyang ito, mabilis na maisese-set up kahit saang lugar kapag may tatamang kalamidad ang nasabing MOCCOV na mobile at command center/post at triaging trailer tent (We are thankful for this big help in the province’s rescue response. Through this technology, the MOCCOV with mobile, command center/post and triaging trailer tent can easily be set up in any place where the calamity might hit),” the governor said.
Funded under the DOST’s Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) program, the MOCCOV is a mobile facility that can be used to plan, direct, coordinate, and control material and manpower resources in times of emergency.
It is equipped with various capabilities for emergency situations to exercise contingency and response plans and has its own weather station system, drone, satellite phone, and other communication and surveillance equipment.
In times of rescue operations, the technology has included triage with available rescue equipment and medical apparatuses. (PNA)
