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PNP units in Luzon, the Visayas in full alert for 'Tisoy'

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

December 2, 2019, 1:57 pm

<p>PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac. <em>(PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)</em></p>

PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac. (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)

MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday placed all police units in Luzon and the Visayas on full alert to ensure availability of resources and personnel for possible disaster response operations in areas that may be affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Tisoy (international name Kammuri).

In a press briefing held at Camp Crame on Monday, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa ordered all police commanders to coordinate with local government units (LGUs) and local offices of the Office of Civil Defense on the specific assistance that the police could provide to ensure public safety.

Banac said the immediate activation of the national headquarters battle staff for command, control and disaster response preparations of the concerned PNP units.

“In anticipation of the landfall of Typhoon Tisoy, all resources, personnel of operational and support unit as well the disaster response units were all preposition on the possible places or areas that will be affected by the typhoon,” he told reporters in Filipino.

The police assistance, he said, could be manpower or other resources that the local police stations could provide such as vehicles and communication equipment.

He said the local police will be of big help in information dissemination and preemptive evacuation to prevent the loss of life and limbs when the typhoon strikes this week.

Katuwang tayo lahat ng LGUs sa pagsasagawa ng mga preemptive evacuations at ang buong Bicol Region ay nagsasagawa na nito. Lahat ng mga nakatira sa malalapit na dalampasigan ay tinutulungan ng PNP na magsagawa ng paglilikas at preventive evacuation at dito naman sa NHQ (national headquarters) ay merong tayong battle staff na itinalaga na syang mangunguna sa critical incident management at disaster response ng PNP (We are in coordination with LGUs for preemptive evacuations in Bicol Region. We are currently conducting preventive evacuation of all people residing near coastal areas. Here at the national headquarters, the battle staff has been assigned to lead during critical incident management and disaster response of PNP),” he added.

Banac also urged the public not to take for granted the warning announced by the government through mobile phones.

Tayo ay patuloy na nanawagan sa ating mga kababayan na nakatira sa mga lugar na maaaring daanan nitong bagyong Tisoy (We call on the public, especially those residing in places that might be hit by Typhoon Tisoy to) to stay safe, alert and informed,” Banac said.

Meanwhile, Gamboa said he also instructed police commanders to make sure that the families and relatives of their men are secured first.

“Most of our personnel are also family people. They have to be secured first so that our policemen could focus on their duty, that the safety of their families would be the least of their worries,” Gamboa said.

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año also directed officials of concerned government agencies to ensure their presence in their respective places to personally oversee disaster management operations.

“As head of their respective Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils, governors, mayors, and punong barangays (village chiefs) are expected to be in their respective stations to man the incident command center and vigilantly monitor the situation on the ground,” Año said in a statement.

The Interior Secretary said LGUs must keep an eye on sea levels as well as the level of river waters and settlements in low-lying areas or near riverbanks which have experienced recent and repeated flooding as well as those at the base of sliding slopes or ridges and areas identified as very high or critical landslide zone.

Año said local authorities should also restrict or ban tourist activities such as mountaineering, surfing, hiking, diving within their areas of jurisdiction to avoid any possible accidents caused by the weather disturbance.

“Small-scale miners should also be advised to stay in safer grounds and avoid any mining activities for the time being. It is also essential to ensure that communication lines are working in order to regularly inform local communities of situation updates and preparedness actions of the localities and to advise the national government on what assistance it could provide to affected communities,” he said.

He also reminded local executives to continuously monitor all PAGASA weather advisories and typhoon bulletins for guidance and carry out early and critical preparedness actions indicated in the DILG’s Operation Listo, a checklist for LGUs on what to do during, before and after a typhoon.

Tisoy is expected to pummel Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon beginning Monday night and will bring heavy rains and strong winds over most parts of Luzon and Visayas, including Metro Manila. (PNA)

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