MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered all of its Luzon-based units to be on full alert starting Thursday as the country braces for the onslaught of Typhoon Mangkhut (local name “Ompong”).
“Effective 6 a.m. tomorrow, Sept. 13, I am placing all Luzon-based PNP units on full alert condition to ensure availability of resources and personnel for possible disaster response operations in areas threatened by the destructive effects of Super Typhoon Ompong, including other areas in Luzon that may experience torrential monsoon rains as a result,” PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said in a statement Wednesday.
Aside from this, Albayalde also ordered the activation of the National Headquarters 1st Level Battle Staff to ensure effective command and control of all PNP disaster response operations.
“The PNP-SAF (Special Action Force) Maritime Group, Highway Patrol Group, Police Community Relations Group, Health Service; and all Regional and Provincial Mobile Forces are likewise placed on full alert to ensure their rapid availability for possible disaster response and rescue operations,” he added.
As an initial response in anticipation of the typhoon’s landfall, resources and personnel from these operational support and maneuver units with disaster response capability are directed to preposition within closest and safest proximity to threatened and high-risk areas along coastlines, riverbanks and geohazard zones for rapid deployment in the event of contingency.
“PNP provincial, city and municipal offices and stations are instructed to undertake road clearing operations for debris in coordination with LGUs (local government units) and DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), especially along national highways and major thoroughfares to allow unhampered movement of emergency vehicles, troops, equipment, supplies and market commodities,” the PNP chief added. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
