Police commanders in the Bicol region and other parts of Luzon and the Visayas that are expected to be hit or affected by tropical storm “Quinta” were ordered to assist in the disaster preparedness and other safety measures of the local government units.
Police Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said local police commanders should be in constant coordination with the LGUs, being members of the local disaster and risk reduction and management councils, in order to ensure readiness in providing any form of assistance.
In situations like natural calamities, PNP spokesman Police Col. Ysmael Yu said regional commanders and National Support Unit commanders are expected to come up with disaster response plans depending on the situation on the ground.
The disaster response plans include deployment of personnel and prepositioning of equipment for search and rescue and road-clearing operations assistance.
PNP disaster response-capable units include Special Action Force, Maritime Group, Highway Patrol Group, Police Community Relations Group, as well as the Regional Public Safety Battalions.
Quinta slightly intensified as it moved closer towards the Bicol region.
As of 7 a.m. today, Quinta was 265 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes (13.5°N, 126.7°E) with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph and moving west at 20 kph.