New security equipment bolsters Caguas region’s emergency response capacity.

Public Safety Secretary Artur Garffer, fourth from the left, noted that the new command trailers to be deployed in six Caguas region towns “strengthen our operational capacity and enable us to coordinate with greater agility and precision for the benefit of our communities.”

By THE STAR STAFF

The Caguas Emergency Management Region on Tuesday announced the delivery of new specialized equipment acquired through the Homeland Security Grant Program, as part of ongoing efforts to bolster the preparedness and operational capacity of municipalities in the face of emergency situations. The delivery was presented by Caguas Mayor William Miranda Torres and island Public Safety Secretary Arthur Garffer.

The total investment amounts to $224,970, allocated for the delivery of six command and support trailers to the municipalities of Barranquitas, Caguas, Cidra, Comerío and Corozal, as well as to the Municipal Emergency Management Office of Orocovis.

The acquisitions are part of a broader investment made over the past two years, with federal funds received through the Homeland Security Grant Program totaling $230,055 and $465,072 in 2023 and 2024.

The mayor emphasized the importance of the delivery for regional security, noting that preparedness is the best tool in the face of any emergency.

“The delivery of this equipment represents a firm step toward strengthening our municipal and regional capabilities,” Miranda Torres said. “We will continue to manage and acquire the necessary resources to ensure that our emergency management offices are equipped with the proper tools to protect our people.”

Garffer noted that the new command trailers “strengthen our operational capacity and enable us to coordinate with greater agility and precision for the benefit of our communities.”

“Through the DSP’s Office of Public Safety Affairs, we will continue to allocate funds to bolster the operational capabilities of our first responders -- both state and municipal -- to ensure a more agile, coordinated, and effective response to any emergency,” the public safety chief added.