PCG: One Meralco Foundation (OMF) Inc. and City of Marikina with support from the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA), Philippine Red Cross, Pepsi Cola Products Philippines and Glad have launched a project on disaster preparedness through Salbabote held at Marikina Riverbanks in Barangay J Dela Peña, Marikina last Tuesday, 21 July.

The ceremonial turnover of Salbabote to the residents of Marikina was graced by Governor Jay Jalandoni of the Philippine Red Cross; Honorable Del De Guzman, Marikina City Mayor; Honorable Fabian Cadiz, Marikina City Vice Mayor; Mr Melvin Cruz, City Administrator of Marikina City; Rear Admiral Valentin B Prieto Jr PCGA; Mr Ferdie Geluz, Vice President and Meralco Head of Central Business Area; Mr Joe Zaldarriaga, Head of Meralco Public Information Office; Mr Jeffrey Tarayao ,President of OMF Inc.; Ms Jika Dalupan, Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications, Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Incorporated; and Ms Marites Dagdag, President of Clorox International Philippines, Incorporated (Glad).

The PCGA as one of the lead proponents of said project conducted a demonstration involving PCGA volunteers wearing the salbabote and testing it in the abovementioned river to exhibit its resiliency and other key features of the improvised flotation device (IFD).

Salbabote is an IFD project with safety measures seen on its parts and components as well as guidelines written on instruction cards designed for people in flood prone areas and coastal communities which aims to minimize casualties.