PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Thursday assured the availability of all their air, land and sea assets and other resources for the transportation and delivery of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine dozens across the country.

The top cop said that the PNP Directorate for Logistics headed by Brigadier Gen. Ronaldo E. Olay and other concerned police units are already prepared to help in the delivery of the vaccines to their end-users nationwide.

President Duterte earlier ordered the use of the air assets of the police and even the military in bringing vaccines to the different regions.

In response to the presidential order, Eleazar guaranteed that police air, land and sea assets are ready for use in transporting COVID-19 vaccines to various provinces and municipalities, especially localities in far-flung areas.

“Nakahanda hindi lang ang air assets ng PNP, kundi pati ang land at water assets, para tumulong sa paghahatid ng mga bakuna sa ating mga bayan at lalawigan,” the PNP chief said.

“I already directed the police regional directors to coordinate with local chief executives to discuss the logistics of the vaccine delivery. Akin rin silang inatasan na magdeploy ng karagdagang personnel na tututok dito sa deliveries ng bakuna,” he added.

Since the beginning of the national government’s vaccination rollout in March, the police force has been helping in the delivery of vaccines.

“Kasama ito sa papel na ginagampanan ng PNP sa ilalim ng ating National Vaccination Program, ang tiyaking makararating ng maayos ang mga bakuna sa lahat ng sulok ng bansa, lalo na sa mga liblib na lugar,” the top cop said.

“Bukod sa seguridad at transportasyon, naka-standby rin ang ating Medical Reserve Force para agad ma-deploy kung alinmang mga lokalidad ang kailangan ng tulong para mapabilis ang proseso ng pagbakuna,” he pointed out.

The PNP chief also said that local police units have also been tasked to help out in disseminating the right information about the COVID-19 vaccines through their various social media platforms and their own Oplan Bandillo.

He urged the public to avail of COVID-19 vaccines with more supplies arriving in the country. He stressed that at present, getting anti-COVID shots is the main shield of the public against the deadly virus.

“We urge the public to avail of these free vaccines because apart from the strict observance of MPHS, this is our best protection against COVID-19,” Eleazar said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon