Table 5.03 Public School Enrollment by Level of Education
SY 1998-1999 – SY 2000-2001

• Performance Indicators

Table 5.04 shows declining performances particularly the cohort-survival rates and completion rates. A considerable percentage of drop-outs for the elementary level is recorded raging from a low of 4.9 percent in SY 2000-2001 and leveling at 5.23 percent for the succeeding years. The secondary level registered a higher turn-out of drop-outs recorded at 7.76 percent, 9.26 percent and 8.78 percent respectively for the last three (3) school years. This may be attributed to the following reasons:

1. Lack of financial capability to cover transportation expenses and cost of school supplies and other requirements
2. Poor study habits due to lack of home supervision
3. Lack of motivation
4. Media influence
5. Peer pressure
6. Transfer of residence due to unavoidable circumstances

Enrollment in all levels continuously increased during the last three schools years with the year 2002-2003 (Table 5.05) having the highest registered number of students pegged at 41,679. There was considerable decrease of enrollment for the following school year (2003-2004) which registered 39,815 students only.

However, the recent NSO results (Table5.06) yielded high level of overall literacy among residents. Overall literacy rate is pegged at 99 percent with exactly one percent belonging to the illiterate group.

HEALTH

The City Medical Center and other Private Tertiary Hospital

Curative health services are provided by three (3) private and one (1) public hospital facilities (Table 5.07). This is excluding the specialized facility for mental health being provided by the National Center for Mental Health in Welfareville Compound. The Mandaluyong City Medical Center (MCMC) is the only government hospital of the city that provides for tertiary level health services to local constituents. It is currently in its final phase of completing its physical expansion that will generate additional bed capacity and much improved facilities.

MCMC has a total manpower of 375 consisting of 116 medical professionals, 38 ancillary personnel, 120 nurses and nursing aides, and 101 civilian employees. The five-floor hospital structure has an existing bed capacity of only 105. However, the completion of the annex building will expand its bed capacity to 300 and will house the following sections:

- Surgical ward, medicine office, Office of the Head Nurse
- Medicine Wards, Reception, Social Welfare, Surgical Office
- OB ward/ OB Gyne Office
- Storage Room
- Emergency Areas, OR Support Rooms
- Central Storage and Sterilization Room

To ensure exclusivity of medical services, local residents are being encouraged to avail of the “Manda Card” currently being issued by the MCMC. However, it still remains hospital policy to serve all in dire need of medical attention especially in times of emergency. Table 5.08 outlines the MCMC Services and facilities as available per floor level.

The Local Health Centers

• Resources, Facilities and Services

Twenty-six (26) health centers scattered in various barangays provide local health services to the city residents. Ten (10) of these health centers are certified by the Department of Health (DOH) as ‘Sentrong Sigla’ centers, which means that these centers have passed stringent evaluation criteria on quality health servicing. Generally, all health centers provide preventive health services such as general medical services, dental and optical service, laboratory services, nutrition supplements and immunization programs.

These health centers, listed in Table 5.09, are under the administrative and technical supervision of the City Health Office whose responsibilities extend to continuous monitoring of water supply and ensuring public access to safe water and promoting the use of sanitary toilet facilities particularly in depressed areas.

Specifically, the city health centers focus on three major health programs/services: Family Health, Infectious Disease Control, and Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. Summary of activities under these services is listed in the proceeding table (Table 5.10).

Two (2) Lying-in clinics provide supplementary health service to mothers. Their services include: attendance to normal deliveries, referrals of all cases with complications to hospitals, newborn screening and care, and breastfeeding.

The average number of patients served daily ranges from 20 to 70 persons per health center depending on the location and area coverage. (Table 5.11).

Spatial distribution of health facilities is shown in Map 49.

Each of these centers has a complete compliment of at least one (1) physician, one (1) or two (2) nurses, two (2) or more midwives, a dentist, a dental aide, a laboratory aide, a nutritionist, Barangay Nutrition Scholars and Barangay Health Workers.

Total government expenditure on health services (City Health Budget) amounts to seven percent (7 %) of the overall city budget for the year 2002.

• Causes of Mortality and Morbidity

Consolidated reports from the City Health Office and hospitals reveal a total of 7,106 live births delivered in year 2002 giving a crude birth rate of 23.99% for every 1000 population, slightly higher than a CBR of 22.74 in 2001.

Crude death rate has been increasing at 3.35, 3.5 to 4.0 for the years 2000, 2001, and 2002, respectively (see Table 5.13a; Table 5.13b; Table 5.13c; Table 5.13d) for causes of death by specific age group.

Infant mortality increased by more than 2% from 14.87% in 2001 to 17.03% in 2002 with prematurity as the top most cause of death followed by pneumonia. There is, however, no recorded incidence of death among women in pregnancy, labor and post partum in 2002 as compared to the previous years wherein Abrupto Placenta was often the cause of death.

For all ages, on the other hand, Cerebro Vas Acc. and Pneumonia have been consistently the two (2) leading causes of deaths as reported by the MCMC for the years 2000, 2001, and 2002. The CHO likewise reported Pneumonia as the leading cause of death, along with Myocardial Infarction and Cancer.

Deaths due to epidemic occurrences such as dengue, leptospirosis and typhoid fever had been controlled in 2002 although there were several cases of individual affected by such diseases. Cases of measles reduced considerably in 2002. Unfortunately, there are still cases of deaths even in the current year despite intense efforts of the city health officials to cover every local household in the government’s measles prevention program.

Evidently, lack of cooperation on the part of the residents mostly in depressed areas is the main culprit in this failure to eradicate measles in the city. This February, the City Health Office once again actively participated in the nationwide campaign against measles by deploying teams of health personnel to provide immunization shots to children below eight (8) years old, covering all households, day care centers and schools as well.

Incidence of common disease for children 0-4 years old and patients of all ages are shown in Tables 5.14a; Table 5.14b; Table 5.14c.

For other health concerns, the 2002 record shows a General Medical Consultation Rate of 34 and 278 for city health centers and the Mandaluyong City Medical Center, respectively. In addition, MCMC recorded an annual hospitalization rate of 33 with a total hospital admission of 9,650 in 2002. Compared with the health centers (Table 5.11), MCMC serves an average of over 250 patients daily, decreasing at 313, 274 and 252 in 2000, 2001, and 2002, respectively.

• Degree Of Malnutrition

With the objective of monitoring the nutritional status of children under seven (7) years old and at the same time provide adequate intervention in the problem on malnutrition, the City Health Office conducts annual weighing of children in this age group through the Operation Timbang Project. A summary report of this project is presented in Table 5.15.

As expected, Brgy. Addition Hills has considerably the largest number of children suffering fron 2nd and 3rd degree malnutrition. This, however, is primarily due to the fact that this barangay is the most populated and at the same time site of the largest informal settlement in the city. Moreover, intensive efforts to address this situation resulted to about 50 percent reduction in the number of cases from 2000 to 2002.

While a regional evaluation on nutrition services puts the city of Mandaluyong among those with very low performances, it is recognized that this may be due to poor documentation of the city’s accomplishments. In fact, such accomplishments were highly commended during the latest advocacy meeting between the city government and the National Nutrition Council.

As a consequence, the City Nutrition Committee is reactivated involving more local government offices to facilitate, coordinate and properly document delivery of nutrition services to the community. In addition, Barangay Nutrition Committees are formed to ensure proper adoption and implementation of the National Nutrition Program at the barangay level.

• Family Planning

Focusing on gender sensitively and reproductive health, the City Health Office has continuously put intensive efforts to promote the use of various family planning methods to local couples.

Inspite of this, there are no significant changes in Contraceptive Prevalence rates for the years 2000 to 2002 (Table 5.12). However, recruitment of new acceptors and maintenance of continuing users (Table 5.16 & Table 5.17) show relatively good results in most barangays.

HOUSING

Characteristics

Mandaluyong City remains predominantly residential, characterized by all types of housing structures such as single-detached, semi-detached, row houses or medium-density dwelling, multi-storey low cost housing and open-market housing, with makeshift structures (barong-barong) and spreading mansions at the extremes. Such conditions are made possible by the presence of blighted (Map 50) areas and first class subdivisions (Map 51).

Evidently, housing tenures are a mixture of ownerships, temporary (as in caretaker), rentals and informal or illegal occupancy which at present affects 22,641 families scattered in 14 barangays in the city (Table 5.18a & Table 5.18b). A considerable number of households totaling 3,806 are categorized as doubled-up, with two (2) or more households occupying a single dwelling unit. In fact, in year 2000 there are at least 1,468 cases of two (2) to six (6) households doubled-up in single housing structures alone, not to mention other types of residential structures in the city (Table 5.19).

Production

• Local Government Initiatives

Although NSO Census 2000 shows a decrease in local population as compared to Census 1995, there remains the need for more housing units to address housing backlogs and replace structures in conditions no longer acceptable as dwelling units.

As surveyed in 2000, over 1500 structures are built with unsafe and improvised materials for both outerwalls and roofing. Table 5.20 (Occupied Housing Unit by Type of Construction Material of Roof and Outerwalls). This is aggravated by a large number of structures built though with strong materials like concrete walls and galvanized iron roofings but are situated within blighted areas.

As a response, the city government took the initiative of developing the following housing programs: (see also Map 52).

* “Home for the Homeless Program”1

To address the situation as described, the local government ventured into the construction industry in the production of low-cost medium rise housing units. This approach of vertical development was deemed more practical in areas densely populated but with insufficient space for single-detached or even semi-detached structures. During the last decade, a total of 1359 socialized housing units had been awarded to qualified beneficiaries with monthly amortization averaging at P 2,658.00 payable in 10 and 25 years term.

Within a span of five years from 1998 to 2002, 14 medium-rise buildings were erected over a land area of 8,733.0-0 sq. m., benefiting 576 families. Total cost of investments inclusive of costs of construction and lot acquisition reached P 269,647,253.03 with an ROI of 11.80% by December 2002 or a total of P 31,811,510.20 paid amortization.

* “Land for the Landless Program”2

Where available spaces allow for on-site development, eligible occupants were given opportunity to acquire their respective spots through different modes of acquisition depending on location and existing ownership of the property in consideration. For instance, a total of 62,087 sq.m. of privately owned properties spread across 13 barangays was acquired through local government funding and distributed to 1414 beneficiaries payable through monthly amortization with terms of payment ranging from 5 to 20 years. By December 2012, a total of P 17,656,751.21 monthly amortization was collected, representing 20.94% of the total investment of P 84,316,004.00

Another mode of acquisition is through the so-called Community Mortgage Program (CMP) wherein the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) pays the landowner on behalf of the tenants association with the local government acting as intermediary. The land is subdivided and distributed to the tenants who pay the monthly amortization directly to the NHMFC. A total of 67,340 sq.m. of land was acquired through the CMP benefiting 1,601 families in 5 barangays.

In the case of the PNR property covering a land area of 95,383.30 sq.m. and stretching from Gen. Kalentong St. in Brgy. Harapin Ang Bukas to Brgy. Barangka Ilaya along the Pasig River shoreline, what used to be a railroad track had been transformed into a densely populated residential area. Again, with the LGU acting as intermediary, settlements were made wherein each tenant household pays amortization directly to the PNR Management, with the LGU as collection agent. A total of 1,863 families benefited from this arrangement. However, this arrangement had been modified at a time when the total balance of payments for the land become manageable enough for the LGU to pay in full. This new arrangement has been a lot favorable to the paying public as their payments are now made to the LGU.

* Innovations

With the sincere intention of providing housing adaptable to a variety of clients/beneficiaries with consideration to their social and economic conditions, the city government is adopting concepts of housing development other than the traditional methods of building standardized housing units with long term amortizations and ready for occupancy upon distribution. Noteworthy are the following accomplished and proposed projects:

a. Rowhouses built through the “Adopt-a-Home Program”.

KGB. This project is located at the Kapalaran-Guinhawa-Busilak area in Barangka Drive, particularly implemented for victims of the fire that razed the area sometime in 1999. It was made possible through a combination of the following: (a) “Sweat Equity” or the free-labor concept patterned after the Habitat Shelter Program of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, (b) private sector participation through donations of construction materials, and (c) government subsidy on other development incurred expenditures.

Block 37. The Block 37 experience in Welfareville Compound is another manifestation that the “Adopt-a-Home Program” works in Mandaluyong. A total of 230 families were affected when fire razed down their houses in April 2000. Today, the Block 37 community is a picture of a well-planned socialized housing development complete with infrastructure support and utilities like electricity and water supply.

b. Development of 10-12 storey socialized housing

Cognizant of the scarcity in land supply vis-à-vis the need to generate a large number of housing units, the city government is looking into the possibility of constructing 10-12 storeys of socialized housing particularly in the Welfareville area. This, however, would entail a more comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and further researches for applicable development and construction strategies to considerably lessen the project cost common to high rise structures considering that the target beneficiaries who will eventually pay for the cost of the project are the under privileged and the marginalized sector of the city.

* Program Coverage

Some of the difficulties encountered in starting the program are the identification of beneficiaries and their lack of initiative to abide by the procedures and rulings of the program.

It is important to note that the local housing program also extends to government employees, victims of calamities, and those affected by other government projects (Table 5.21). Those who cannot avail of this program have the option to avail of the national government’s housing program which costs much less but located elsewhere outside Metro Manila. Others who are not eligible for in-city housing program were provided reasonable resettlement package in other local government units with special ties to Mandaluyong City.

There are a total of 298 households who were transferred to Kasiglahan Village in Trece Martirez, Cavite in the light of the Pasig River rehabilitation program which included clearing of embankments and reinforcement of easements. This move affected said number of informal settlers who were relocated to Cavite and provided with adequate housing facilities and livelihood programs. This project was facilitated by the National Housing Authority and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (Table 5.22).

Considering the 1997 data on household income where 19.4%3 is spent monthly on shelter, a large majority of the households cannot afford such monthly rentals, much less purchase a house at this time. As a consequence, families with close relations opted to double-up or share units, while the number of informal settlers continuously increase from 14,611 families in 1993 to 22,641 families at present.

The private sector has also been actively taking part in the housing industry as manifested by the boom in the development and production of subdivisions and open market housing (Map 52) within the last five years. For instance, the private sector has produced around 396 new units in the form of town houses and multi-storey condominiums. Very noticeable among the latest investments in the residential condominiums are multi-billion peso projects like the California Garden Square and the Gateway Residences in Brgy. Highway Hills and Brgy. Barangka Ilaya, respectively. (see Major Development Projects, Part 4 Economy).

Current prices for condominium units vary from P 15,000.00 monthly rental for a 60.00 sq.m. condominium unit to a selling price of P 3m and above for an 80-120 sq.m. unit.

For single-detached and semi-detached structures, the average price of houses in Mandaluyong City based on the publications in housing market was P6,400,000 three years ago. The median price of dwelling units, often computed as 70% of the average price, was P4,480,0004. Median annual rent, on the other hand, is P173,880 or P14,490 per month5. This recent year, however, no data is available.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Social Welfare

Social Welfare services in Mandaluyong are provided by 14 different agencies; 6 from the government sector, and 8 are non-government organizations. (see Table 5.23).

Among the government agencies, two have citywide area of coverage:

• The Local Division of Social Welfare and Development which provides comprehensive social services, and is staffed with 50 Social Workers and with office located at the City Hall Compound.

• The Integrated Day Center which serves special children and normal children in the 0-3 years age bracket.

The other four (4) agencies have nationwide coverage serving women detainees/prisoners and the mentally ill and recovered psychotics. These agencies are located within the Welfareville Compound, a 116 hectare property of the Department of Social Welfare and Development strategically located at the center of the city.

The non-government organizations are mostly associated with the religious sector, serving the needs of street children and the needy youth, as well as outreach activities and ministries to the needy parishioners.

Locations of these service organizations are shown in Map 53.

Disabled Persons Affairs

Formerly a program of the CSWD, the Disabled Persons Affairs has evolved into a new division under the office of the City Administration through City Ordinance No. 193.S-1998. Since then, DPAD has developed sustaining programs which had reached hundreds of special children and differently-abled persons over the past couple of years. Among these programs are on research, education, advocacy, accessibility, community-based programs and organization, sports and socio-cultural programs, employment and livelihood, as well as income generation programs

• Research

Included in the program is the development/upgrading of the data base of persons with disabilities, linkage with research centers for possible research-based programs, and publication of wall news, journals, newsletters and other information materials for the service of the sector.

• Education

This provides the literacy program of the sector through evaluation of the present educational system for children and youth with disabilities, and establishment of institutions for programs that will help uplift the educational capability of beneficiaries.

• Advocacy

This includes lobbying for support through the City Council for the passage of support local legislations for the sector; development of barangay, school-based and church-based awareness program; and, development of family, community and workplace sensitivity workshops.

• Accessibility

This works for the establishment of a task force to monitor the implementation of the Accessibility Law and the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

• Community-based Program and Organization

Support the establishment of different organizations of persons with disabilities and caregivers.

• Sports and Socio-cultural Program

Development of sports training, linkage with both local, national and international sports association and participation in such sports events; institutionalization of different sporting events in the city’s programs; development of theater group composed of the sector.

• Employment and Livelihood

Development of employment programs for the sector and linkage with other agencies for the promotion of the sector’s employment and livelihood concerns, as well as establishment of cooperatives.

• Income Generation

Full implementation of the programs means support from other sources, not just the local government. DPAD tries to see to it that programs could be sustained at minimal costs of the local administration. This, DPAD tries to manage through networking with other concerned private organizations.

To date, thousands of disabled persons in the city has been benefited by the DPAD programs since it started six years ago. Table 5.24 shows the summary of projects and its impact to the sector.

Livelihood and Skills Development

From a small government institution, the Mandaluyong Manpower and Development Center (MMDC) has evolved into nationally competitive training center operationally guided by the philosophy of helping man realize his optimum potential to be a profitable member of his community. To develop and enhance capability and competencies of the unemployed, underemployed and those tending to be entrepreneurial, the MMDC as a training institution offers free training in various vocational and technical courses as well as livelihood programs. (See Table 5.25)

The center has two (2) training centers, one in Barangay Hulo and another at Welfareville Compound in Addition Hills. It has a total of 23 training facilitators and 26 support staff, supported by budget allocations from the General Fund.

A new addition to the center’s rooster of courses is Carpentry. Its initial project, the Casket Making, catered to handicapped trainees whose training expenses were shouldered by the city government. These caskets were in turn sold for a minimum fee to the needing poor families in the city. This project has significant benefits both to the consumers of the affordable caskets as well as to the handicapped makers who eke out their living from the new craft.

• As a placement and counseling office

The MMDC also give guidance counseling and placement assistance. Aside from PESO, MMDC through its Placement Officer conducts Training Induction Programs (TIP) and Job Induction Programs (JIP) for the on-going and out-going trainees. These orientations are conducted to promote study habits, moral, attitudinal and work values and ethics of training beneficiaries. The center also provides a listing of employment opportunities and makes job referrals to both public and private sectors.

Target participants of the livelihood programs of the MMDC are city residents from the poor barangays. Advocacy on the importance of education is its focus through career guidance in all public elementary and secondary schools in the city.

• As a service-oriented entity

The MMDC conducts trade tests in various trade areas to out-going trainees in order to determine their effectiveness in skills by theories and practical applications and to upgrade their qualification for employment. The trade test is administered by testing officers from the TESDA-NCR-PaMaMariSan District.

Entrepreneurial initiatives are also a regular program of the center especially for the out-of-school youths and the unemployed adults. Seminars are conducted regularly by TESDA and other private agencies. These seminars aim to assist beneficiaries to get into employment through industry or self-employment.

• Awards and Recognitions

For the past three years, the center has earned awards and recognition for both the center and its exemplary trainors and students which include the following:

* Certificate of Recognition for the Center for achieving 130% of its target on Basic Skills and Livelihood Training Program
* Outstanding Training Center Achievement Award from TESDA
* Most Outstanding Training Administrator in Metro Manila
* First Place, Pres. Ramon Magsaysay Working Man Award for the NCR Level
* Silver Medalist, Metro Manila 1997 Youth Skills Olympics
* First Place, 1999 Regional Skills Olympic Welding competition
* Silver Medalist, Welding Competition, Philippine National Skills Competition
* 2000 National Awardee of “TESDA KABALIKAT AWARD” for the City Government
* 2002 Outstanding Training Achievement Award for outstanding performance in the conduct of community-based technical and skills training by graduating over 1,000 trainees for the year
* Special Citation Award for its promotion of TESDA Occupational Qualification and Certification System (TOQCS)
* Certificate of Recognition for its valuable contribution in the promotion and conduct of community-based technical skills training
* Outstanding Industrial Skills Trainor Award to Arc Welding trainor Mr, Bernardo A. Benito for his outstanding performance and selfless contribution and dedication to the technical, moral and spiritual development of the trainees
* Certificate of Recognition Award to Ms. Rebecca O. Villaflores (Cosmetology/Reflexology Trainee) for having shown exemplary performance in relation to her technical and skills training

To promote specific trade areas and occupations relevant to present economic trends and gain active participation of the industry in advocating skills excellence, the Center launched its First Mandaluyong Open Skills Competition on July 15, 1999, and has continued to do so every year since then.

PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Police Services

• Building Resources

The PNP Headquarters, Police Station 3 is located within the City Hall Compound, housed in a 4-level building complex together with the local Fire Department and the City Jail. Its area of jurisdiction covers the entire City of Mandaluyong.

For a more efficient delivery of protective services, five (5) community precincts (Table 5.26) are established in strategic location in the city, each covering a different group of barangays, as can be seen in Map 54. Each precinct is provided with well-maintained service vehicle and equipment as listed in Table 5.27.

• Manpower

Total size of Police Force is 301, composed of 265 non-commissioned officers, 20 officers and 16 civilian employees. This gives a police-population ratio of 1: 925 which is below the standard for highly-urbanized areas.

The force is augmented by 489 civilian employees under the Public Order and Safety Department, and the Mayor’s Action Command of the city government.

In addition, the Force has accredited a total of 34 private agencies that provide private security and detective services. These are listed in the proceeding Table 5.28.

• Crime Statistics

Report from the Philippine National Police reveals that the city enjoys a relatively peaceful community. Crime Solution Efficiency for the past four years registered a high of 96.39% in year 2000 and a low of 94.31% for the current year. The figure for the current year however, is only inclusive of January to May 2003.

Theft and physical injury are among the top index crimes committed in the city.

Fire Protection

• Resources

* Building Resources

The city is protected from fire incidences by the Mandaluyong Fire Station, with its Head Office and Central Sub-Fire Station housed at the PNP/FIRE/JAIL Complex Bldg., City Hall Compound. The Central Sub-Fire Station has citywide area coverage, and is augmented by the EDSA Central Substation which covers barangays in the vicinity of EDSA and the Kalentong Substation which serves barangays to the left of the PNR Railroad Track as can be seen in Map 55.

* Manpower Resources

There are four (4) major divisions that comprise the overall operation of the fire department. Table 5.30 shows the distribution of personnel, 83 in all, of which about 55 percent man the central station at the city hall.

This gives a Fireman-population ratio of 1:3,355

Size and area coverage of fire substations are shown in Table 5.31.

* Fire Trucks and Rescue Equipment

There are only three (3) fire trucks available for operation in the city. This is augmented by three (3) more water tankers and another three (3) water pumpers during fire emergencies. Two (2) ambulances for rescue operations are in stand-by. Other fire facilities include mobile radios for communication purposes.

Compared to the previous years, the current quantity of fire trucks has decreased from the recorded four (4) in 2000 to a three (3) this year. This leaves one fire truck for each sub-station. (see Table 5.32)

* Fire Hydrants

A total of 78 fire hydrants distributed all over the city supplement the firefighting facilities. Of these, 60 are operational and 16 as non-operational.

• Fire Incidence Statistics

With figures of fire incidences for years 2000-2002, fire occurrence averages at 254.33 annually. This seems to be a high frequency considering the size of the city. However, it can be attributed to the proliferation of informal settlements in various barangays.

These fire incidences are mostly rubbish and structural in nature, with origins varying from electrical, cigarette butts, LPG (Tank/Stove) to unknown sources as can be seen in Table 5.33.

* Fire Safety Inspections

One measure to prevent fire occurrences is the continuous conduct of fire safety inspections in different establishments in the city. As shown in Table 5.31, inspections conducted in year 2000 increased by 1.78% from 1999 inspections. Fewer establishments in year 2000 were found to have deficiencies in fire safety requirements and subsequently recommended for correction and improvement. Consequently, a total of 301 Fire Safety Inspection Certificates were issued, a 24.38% increase compared to the 242 certificates issued in 1999.

* Community Relations

Another preventive measure is maintaining Community Relations. As a result, more fire drills were conducted and more volunteers trained in this year as can be seen in Table 5.32. At the same time, 300 empty drums were distributed to serve as stand-by water containers in cases of emergencies.

• Problems and Needs

Mandaluyong City is adequately provided with fire station facilities considering that the three (3) existing fire substations located as shown in Map 55 have overlapping radii of services.

Based on standards, one fire substation should be within a radius of 2.5 km., 5 km. and 10 km. from commercial-industrial areas, medium to high density residential areas, and low density residential areas, respectively. The city is mostly medium to high density residential with commercial strips and has a total land area of 11.25 sq. km., well within the coverage of one fire substation.

In addition, the city is adequately served with roads such that the ideal travel time of two (2) minutes from the station to the fire can be achieved. There are, however, certain problems that have to be addressed for a more efficient fire fighting service.

* Delayed Response

Despite adequacy of roads and relatively short distances between fire substations and the sites on fire, there are instances when fire trucks are delayed due to traffic congestion in some areas and the negative attitude of drivers particularly of public utility vehicles to pull over the side of the road and give way to fire trucks and other vehicles responding to the emergency calls. An additional of one (1) to two (2) minutes of travel time would certainly result to greater damages which road users must be made aware of.

* Preventable Causes of Fire

Based on the Fire Incidence Report, causes of most fires such as discarded glowing cigarette butts, leaking gas tanks, and faulty electrical wiring, are preventable in nature and resulting from carelessness, negligence, or ignorance of the individual who caused the fire.

* Very Low Fireman-Population Ratio

By standards, the fireman-population ratio should be at least 1 : 500 for urban/metropolitan areas. In actual, the City of Mandaluyong has a ratio of 1 : 3,355 which means that one fireman has 3,355 people under his protection, almost seven (7) times that of the standard.

* Insufficient Fire Fighting Facilities

By standard area coverage, the existing three substations are more than sufficient to serve the entire city. However there are factors that suggest the need for additional fire substations, to wit;

a) Existing substations are not sufficient to accommodate increase in fire-fighting personnel and apparatus/fire trucks