By Susan De Leon | Philippine Information Agency
CALOOCAN CITY – The Philippine National Police has restored its communications with PNP units in areas affected by Typhoon Odette in Visayas, Mindanao, and MIMAROPA despite massive outages of telecom services in 704 areas.
“The PNP communication lines and supply continue to be operational in all Police Regional Offices, ensuring effective command and control to supervise and direct post disaster relief and rehabilitation operations,” PNP Chief, Police Gen. Dionardo B Carlos said after making his assessment in the heels of his aerial sorties and inspection in Central and Western Visayas on his way to linking up with President Rodrigo Duterte in Mindanao.
Carlos said both conventional and alternate communication systems remain operational to keep the PNP Command Group in touch with PNP Units thru the PNP Command Center.
“Lessons learned from the Yolanda experience taught us to continue to maintain conventional communication systems as back-up for modern digital telecommunications infrastructure,” he said.
The PNP Command Center reported five PNP facilities damaged by the effects of Typhoon Odette in Eastern Visayas and Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional, while 210 PNP personnel were listed among victims.
The PNP has conducted 41 rescue and relief operations that have already resulted in the rescue of 563 persons in distress.
Meanwhile, PNP units continue to provide assistance and security in 7,201 evacuation centers where 2,432 families comprising 100,353 individuals have sought temporary shelter. (PNP/PIA-NCR) – bny
