JOINT COORDINATING CENTER. The Philippine National Police opens the joint inter-agency coordinating center built inside the police regional office compound in Palo, Leyte on Thursday (Jan. 17, 2019). The container van-made center was primarily envisioned to improve communication to avoid incidents similar to the Sta. Rita, Samar misencounter on June 25, 2018 between patrolling cops and soldiers, where six policemen died. (Photo by Sarwell Meniano)
PALO, Leyte -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) opened the joint inter-agency coordinating center (JIACC) building on Thursday to enhance coordination among government agencies in the conduct of the 2019 elections, disaster response, and major events in the region.
Built inside the Police Regional Office 8 (Eastern Visayas) compound here, the container van-made center was primarily envisioned to improve communication to avoid incidents similar to the Sta. Rita, Samar misencounter on June 25, 2018 between patrolling cops and soldiers, where six policemen died.
“When I came in, I asked the military if we can put up a coordinating center to improve our coordination and ensure that there will be no repeat of the Samar misencounter,” PRO-8 Director, Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, said.
Carlos said the first to be housed at the center in the first six months is the regional election monitoring action center. “All agencies that would like to monitor how election activities are going on, we will do it here,” he said.
“We have created an idea of a coordinating center where multi-agencies can coordinate before, during and after a major operation or activity. This will serve as a battle room, an action center where all brainstorming, reliable and first-hand information relies,” he added.
The PNP has already invited the Philippine Army to detail its liaison officers at the JIACC during joint-security operations and other major event security operations with other government agencies. (PNA)
