DISASTER-READY. Provincial government personnel inspect the newly-delivered rescue boat on Monday (May 25, 2026). Two of this kind were received by the Ilocos Norte government through a grant contract from the Japanese government. (Contributed photo)
LAOAG CITY – Two brand-new rescue boats are now being tested in the coastal waters of Ilocos Norte after the provincial government received the units from the Japanese government.
Engr. Randy Nicolas, local disaster risk reduction and management officer of the Provincial Resiliency Office, confirmed this on Tuesday, noting that the rescue boats are a big boost to the province’s disaster preparedness initiative.
“The Japanese government, through its embassy in Manila, approved the donation of the two units of rescue boats worth PHP3.5 million last year,” he said in an interview.
The program falls under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, which aims to ensure the safety of local communities during times of crisis.
According to Nicolas, the delivery of the items has been delayed due to a leadership transition and the procurement process.
A grant contract was signed on Feb. 25, 2025 between Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya.
For a province like Ilocos Norte, which is frequently visited by tropical cyclones year-round, a rescue boat is one of the most needed assets for search-and-rescue and relief operations in flood-prone and hard-to-reach areas.
On average, about three cyclones occur in the province in the months of July and August, and one each in June, September, and October, according to data from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Meanwhile, the state weather bureau said the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” may begin by the end of May or in the first week of June.
PAGASA stated that the country is gradually entering the “habagat” (southwest monsoon) season, but this does not necessarily indicate the beginning of the rainy season. (PNA)
