PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. yesterday said that more than 27,000 police rescuers have been deployed nationwide to assist government agencies in the possible preemptive evacuation of residents in areas expected to be hit by super typhoo “Betty.”

The PNP chief said that his men have also been mustered to fully assist local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and local government units in conducting search, rescue and relief operations in areas threatened by the typhoon, which was monitored moving closer to the northern tip of Luzon, particularly in Cagayan Valley where PAGASA has raised storm warning signal no. 1 in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela.

The super typhoon, although downgraded already to typhoon, is expected to bring a large volume of rain in the whole archipelago which might cause flooding and landslides.

As a preemptive measure, Acorda said that the Area Police Command-Northern Luzon headed by Lt. Gen. Felipe R. Natividad has mobilized all Regional Mobile Force Battalions of Police Regional Offices 1, 2, 3, and Cordillera, including the Provincial Mobile Force Companies in these regions.

Also the chairman of the PNP National Headquarters Critical Incident Management Committee, the PNP chief said they have also activated the committee to monitor, coordinate, and direct all disaster response efforts of PNP Units, through the Sub-Committee on Natural Disasters chaired by PNP Director for Police-Community Relations, Major Gen. Mario A. Reyes.

The committee is being assisted by the Critical Incident Monitoring Team at the PNP Command Center.
Gen. Acorda said that PNP units at the municipal, city, and provincial levels are under specific instructions to keep all national highways and thoroughfares clear of road debris and obstruction to ensure unhampered passage of emergency vehicles, rescue equipment, and relief aid convoys to disaster-affected areas.

In coordination with their DRRMOs and the DSWD, police units were also stationed in prepositioned aid warehouses and distribution hubs to provide security and organized delivery of relief supplies and other resources.

The top cop said that similar disaster-response preparations by PNP units are also underway in other parts of the country, particularly in the western sections of Visayas, Mimaropa and Calabarzon regions, that were identified by the state weather agency to be vulnerable to strong winds and heavy rains from the enhanced southwest monsoon spawned by typhoon Betty that can cause floods and landslide.

RELIEF GOODS SUFFICIENT–DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development assured the public of sufficient relief goods that were already prepositioned in different areas in the country in anticipation of the possible effects of super typhoon “Betty.”

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said about 800,000 family food packs in various warehouses nationwide can be immediately tapped by local government units (LGUs) for distribution to affected citizens.

From the total number, more than 80,000 FFPs were prepositioned in Cagayan Valley Region, almost 50,000 FFPs in Ilocos Region, and more than 40,000 FFPs in Central Luzon. The three regions are likely to bear the brunt of Typhoon Betty.

FLIGHTS CANCELLED

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said Cebu-Baguio PAL flight has been canceled due to “Betty” according to Area Center 1 manager Ronald Estabillo.

Flights operated by Cebu Pacific in Area Center 2 were also cancelled such as the Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila, Tuguegarao-Basco, Tuguegarao-Calayan.

Work in all government offices in Basco has been suspended until further notice based on Municipal Executive Order No. 65.

At Cauayan Airport, the Manila-Cauayan-Manila Cebu Pacific flight has been canceled today, as well as coastal flights.

According to an advisory from Cebu Pacific, its Manila-Masbate-Manila flight was also canceled.

CAAP reminds passengers to prioritize their safety and cooperate with airport and airline authorities during this weather disturbance. By Alfred Dalizon, Jester Manalastas and Jun Legaspi