The Philippine National Police scrambled its disaster response units to perennial geohazard zones along the eastern seaboard and other threatened areas of Central and Southern Luzon ahead of the expected touchdown of Typhoon Rolly (Goni) over the Luzon land mass this weekend.
On instructions of PNP Chief, Police General Camilo Pancratius P Cascolan, police disaster response units, personnel and equipment were rushed to these areas for swift reaction to possible contingencies. At the same time, PNP Food Bank resources were prepositioned within the proximity of designated evacuation centers for possible relief operations.
“On top of the PNP mandate to enforce the law is the duty to perform public safety operations to save lives during this season when normal community activities are momentarily interrrupted by extreme weather conditions,” Cascolan said.
“This is a most opportune time for the PNP to link arms with Local Governments, state agencies, and private organizations to enliven the Bayanihan spirit in the face of calamity,” he said.
At the National Headquarters, the PNP high command activated the NHQ Disaster Incident Management Task Group (DIMTG), an updated and enhanced plan of action of the PNP on disaster preparedness and response management in support to other concerned agencies.
PNP Spokesperson, Police Colonel Ysmel S Uy said the DIMTG supports the government’s disaster risk reduction and management efforts in accordance with the PNP Critical Incident Management Operational Procedures (CIMOP).
Yu said the DIMTG has alerted PNP disaster response-capable units such as Special Action Force (SAF), Maritime Group (MarGrp), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Police Community Affairs and Development Group (PCADG), as well as the Regional Mobile Force Battalions (RMFB) and Provincial and City Mobile Force Companies (MFC) were instructed to coordinate closely with NDRRMC and Local Government Units for possible enforcement of forced evacuation in areas threatened by storm surge, flooding, and landslide.
Likewise, Police Regional Offices in affected areas were instructed to keep all national highways and major thoroughfares clear of obstructions and debris to allow unhampered passage of troops, rescue units, emergency vehicles and relief supplies, Yu said.
The state weather agency PAGASA said two active weather systems in the Philippine Sea are likely to affect the country in the coming days.
(PNP-PIO)
