With years of experience in disaster response, the Philippine National Police (PNP) wants to consolidate all the best practices in its bit to institutionalize police response in times of calamities.

Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., said the institutionalization of disaster response among its personnel and units on the ground is necessary as the Philippines faces strong typhoons every year with thousands of policemen usually on the frontline.

Following the recent onslaught of super typhoon “Nando” in Northern Luzon and typhoon “Opong” in Bicol, Eastern Visayas and southern Tagalog areas, weather experts said two to four weather disturbances are expected to enter the country next month.

“We face strong typhoons every year, that’s the reality ever since and we cannot change it. But we can do something about it by coming up with ways for our personnel to be well-prepared and well-equipped every time they are deployed as frontliners,” said Nartatez.

“This is really important because we are talking about the safety of our kababayan, especially those in coastal communities and landslide and flood-prone areas,” he added.

Thousands of policemen are usually deployed to assist local government units during calamities. 

From preemptive evacuation, search and rescue and road-clearing operations and relief distribution, PNP personnel are actively doing their share in assisting the affected communities.

“As part of our long-term commitment considering that the PNP is among the regular frontliners, we will institutionalize disaster response from training programs to field deployment which will also involve the community,” said Nartatez. 

Aside from training programs and providing the essential tools for disaster response, Nartatez said they will further strengthen police and community relations in relation to disaster response.

“If we have to assist in holding the training at the barangay level, we will do so to make sure that everybody should know what to do before, during and after typhoons and other calamities,” said Nartatez.