Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco recently recognized the 18 rescuers who completed the water rescue and search training of the Metro Manila Development Authority.
The rescuers, composed of representatives from the barangays, Navotas City Police Station, Bureau of Fire Protection-Navotas, and volunteer firefighters, underwent the seven-day training at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.
Of the 18 trainees, three completed the one-mile (1.6 kilometers) open-water swim at Manila Bay near the Navotas Centennial Park.
“Navotas is surrounded by bodies of water, the Manila Bay and the Navotas-Malabon River. It is crucial for us to establish a WASAR team to ensure the safety of our constituents especially during calamities,” Tiangco said.
Tiangco joined Vice Mayor Clint Geronimo and members of the city council in the simple recognition rites. Another set of Navoteños will undergo flood rescue training in October.