Over 4,500 Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel have evacuated a total of 247,400 individuals in areas battered by typhoon "Odette", Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said Tuesday, Dec. 21.
Reports disclosed that 2,431 PNP men and 2,125 BFP personnel were dispatched in the regions hit by typhoon Odette to conduct rescue and safety measures.
Año noted that the uniformed men “are currently conducting disaster response operations with more than 19,000 on standby following the onslaught of typhoon Odette in the Visayas and Mindanao area.’’
“Our forces from the PNP and BFP have been working round the clock since the storm signals have been raised in Central Visayas and nearby regions. Hanggang ngayon po ay kasalukuyan pa din silang (PNP, BFP men) nasa ground para tumulong sa search and rescue operations para sa ating mga kababayan (Up to the present they remain on the ground to assist in the search and rescue operations for the public),” Año said.
“Typhoon Odette which made its initial landfall in Siargao Island in Surigao Del Norte pounded provinces in Central Visayas and adjacent regions leaving millions worth of infrastructure damage alone,’’ the DILG noted.
The DILG chief disclosed “that the PNP assisted in evacuating a total of 99,571 individuals, of which 44,761 are from MIMAROPA; 12,271 are from Region 6; 44,615 are from Region 7; 7,681 are from Region 8; 278 are from Region 10; 29,820 are from Region 13; and 145 are from Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.’’
He added that the PNP had rescued a total of 4,941 individuals most of whom are from Region 6 “accounting to 4,007 and assisted in 448 relief operations.’’
“Hindi po tayo iniwanan ng ating mga kapulisan (The police force never left us). Their presence in this disaster is truly a relief for the local government units (LGUs) and especially for the people victimized by this typhoon,’’ he added.
Año also noted that 499 firefighters were involved in hazard response efforts aiding citizens against flooding, landslide and storm surge while 1,626 were deployed for search, rescue and retrieval (SRR) operations which involved 1,444 personnel for fire suppression; 118 for emergency medical services and 64 for SRR.
Through the BFP’s efforts, Año stressed that 147,829 individuals have been evacuated to safer areas and evacuation centers most of whom were from CARAGA totalling 107,698 individuals.
“Ninety-one (91) evacuees were from MIMAROPA; 813 from Region 6; Region 7 with 30; 19,597 for Region 7; 7,840 from Region 10; and11,760 from BAR,’’ the DILG noted.
“Very visible ang ating mga bumbero sa pagtugon sa ating rescue and relief efforts para sa mga nasalanta ni ‘Odette’. We are grateful for their service lalo na sa mga panahon ng sakuna katulad nito (especially in this distress time like this),” Año said.
Año lamented that the PNP’s 8,562 Reactionary Standby Support Force and BFP’s 10,631 fire fighters are on standby and are awaiting orders for deployment when the need arises “to boost relief and rescue efforts in areas hit by Odette.’’ (Chito A. Chavez)