The investment aims to ensure greater energy autonomy in disaster scenarios and guarantee the continuity of essential services. The handover ceremony took place as part of the commemorations for the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and was attended by the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Rui Rocha, the Mayor of Porto de Mós, Jorge Vala, and parish representatives.
Each of the ten parishes — Alqueidão da Serra, Alvados e Alcaria, Arrimal e Mendiga, Calvaria de Cima, Juncal, Mira de Aire, Pedreiras, Porto de Mós, São Bento, and Serro Ventoso — received a 25 kVA generator with an inverter. This measure follows difficulties experienced in the municipality during recent storms.
Pedro Pragosa, President of the Pedreiras Parish Council and parish representative on the Municipal Civil Protection Commission, highlighted the importance of learning from past events, stating, "what we suffered this year has not been forgotten. With this action, people know we can do better in a future calamity."
Jorge Vala, Mayor of Porto de Mós, emphasized that this investment is the first step in a broader plan. The Municipality intends to proceed with the installation of Starlink satellite communication systems in the parishes, with the support of the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, to ensure communication alternatives. The mayor also stressed the importance of raising public awareness about the role of parish councils in disaster contexts and thanked the parishes for their commitment during the adverse weather.
Rui Rocha, Secretary of State for Civil Protection, noted that resilience is achieved through practical measures like this, covering a wide range of risks. He announced that the distribution of Starlink systems will be handled by the Ministry of Internal Administration and that battery-powered radios will also be provided to parishes, strengthening communication alternatives during failures of usual networks. He also highlighted the importance of Local Civil Protection Units and the updating of Municipal Civil Protection Plans.
The goal is to build a more resilient municipality prepared to respond to future unforeseen events. The initiative strengthens institutional cooperation and population protection, improving the operational conditions for civil protection agents facing future risks.
