To help train emergency responders, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. donated P1.58 million to the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) for the construction of its five-room training center at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City.
Calling the people of ERUF “angels,” RAFI President Roberto “Bobby” Aboitiz said RAFI is glad to help the foundation, which “has been making miracles for the last 29 years.”
Creating better community
“This is another one of the steps towards creating a better community. This (donation) is not the only time. Whenever we can (donate to ERUF), we will,” he told ERUF officials who accepted the check last August 11.
ERUF said the center would provide “training for emergency medical and pre-hospital care and rescue and rehabilitation services to the needs of the community.”
Mobile triage
RAFI Chief Operating Officer Dominica B. Chua said RAFI is also outfitting a Hino truck to serve as ERUF’s mobile triage costing P1.91 million. She praised the foundation for being a “reliable intervener in terms of emergency.”
She also said that with climate change now being the new normal, everyone should help equip ERUF.
Dr. Pek Eng Lim, ERUF Board of Trustees chairman, assured that they “will continue at what we do best,” adding that theirs is the only group in the Philippines accredited by the US and Hong Kong as emergency responders.
Disaster response
ERUF was also among those that responded and went to Tacloban City in the aftermath of super-typhoon Yolanda in November 8, 2013.
According to the Memorandum of Agreement that the two foundations signed, the training center “will develop, professionalize and standardize the provision of pre-hospital emergency care for patients needing treatment.”
“After Yolanda, everybody has ambulances. We support by training them,” said Mona Li, ERUF BOT treasurer.
