Rescue Boats for Olongapo
Virgina Beach, USA has donated to Olongapo City four (4) rescue boats worth about P1M.
Virginia councilor Jim Wood formally turned-over the donation to Olongapo City Councilor Jong Cortez, who is currently in the US to supervise the student exchange program between the twin cities.
The donation was an off-shoot of the September 2013 floods that struck Olongapo during the official US trip of Mayor Rolen C. Paulino for the sister city program.
Wood facilitated the donation by sponsoring an ordinance authorizing the donation.
Paulino said the rescue boats would boost the city’s rescue capability during the rainy season. “The boats are expected to arrive before the rainy season and we here in Olongapo are very thankful to our sister city,” Paulino said.
The donated boats include a 24-footer Boston Whaler with twin-225 horse power engine, 2 rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) with 50hp and 75hp outboard motors and an aluminum utility skiff, all conservatively valued at $25,000.
All of the boats came with trailers, sirens, sonar/radar.
Virginia Beach officials said that the 225HP engine of the Boston Whaler was purchased for $18,000 each and are only 3-4 years old.
Witnesses to the turn-over include officials from the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC, namely Capt. Elson Aguilar, Naval & Defense Attache and First Minister Elmer Cato, representing His Excellency Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia.
