The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has acquired two wrecker cranes to assist in responding to accidents and other emergencies on the road.
On Friday, MMDA acting chairman Don Artes and MMDA general manager Usec. Procopio Lipana led the blessing ceremony of the wrecker cranes, which they said would enhance the agency’s response capability, especially during road mishaps and emergency response.
The wrecker crane is specifically designed for heavy-duty towing and can carry up to 50 tons.
“The wrecker crane will be utilized in case of a roadside accident or breakdown involving heavy vehicles. It’s essential to remove vehicles from the accident site as soon as possible to allow normal traffic and prevent obstruction in the road,” said Artes.
Recently, lawmakers urged the government to allocate funds for the acquisition of medical ambulances and tow trucks to address vehicular accidents that also cause road congestion.
Apart from saving lives, emergency trucks and medical teams can decrease the duration when traffic is stopped, and a road is blocked by an accident.
Last year, approximately 50,000 vehicles were involved in accidents in the National Capital Region alone, resulting in 32,800 property damages, 168 fatalities, and 11,525 injuries.
The MMDA Traffic Engineering Center revealed that four-wheelers were the most commonly involved vehicles in accidents, comprising about 45,000 of the total.