PNP girds for super typhoon ‘Henry’
PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. has ordered all police disaster response units to prepare for deployment to Northern Luzon in anticipation of heavy rains and strong winds expected to be brought by super typhoon ‘Henry’ which was spotted closest to the Luzon mainland past Thursday midnight.
PNP search-and-rescue units and equipment have been sent to the Ilocos-Pangasinan and Cagayan Valley regions , the top cop said.
At the same time, government relief resources have been prepositioned near designated evacuation centers for possible relief operations in areas threatened by the effects of ‘Henry.’
He also activated the PNP National Headquarters Disaster Incident Management Task Group to supervise all their plans of actions before, during and after the super typhoon in support of other concerned government agencies.
Gen. Azurin said that the DIMTG supports the government’s disaster risk reduction and management efforts in accordance with the PNP Critical Incident Management Operational Procedures.
Amid their full alert level, the PNP chief said he has alerted PNP disaster response-capable units led by the Special Action Force, Maritime Group, Highway.
At the same time, Regional Mobile Force Battalions and Provincial and City Mobile Force Companies in the affected regions were instructed to coordinate closely with local DRRMO and Local Government Units for possible enforcement of forced evacuation in areas threatened by storm surge, flooding, and landslide.
Likewise, regional, provincial and city/municipal PNP Units 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, Gen. Azurin said..
Elsewhere in Luzon, the Police Regional Offices 3, 4-A and 4-B and the National Capital Region Police Office were also alerted for possible disaster response operations in perennial geo-hazard areas in these regions in anticipation of torrential monsoon rains induced by the super typhoon in the north.
“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 interrupted by extreme weather conditions,” Gen. Azurin 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 added.
