CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna - The Police Regional Office CALABARZON is all set for the vacation season to bolster security measures through the “Ligtas Sumvac (Summer Vacation) 2022” campaign, and a total of 1,459 police personnel are ready for deployment, Brigadier General Antonio Yarra, regional director announced here.
To augment the strength of the CALABARZON PNP, 2,706 force multipliers and volunteer groups will also be deployed to back up 866 PNP personnel to be assigned in places of convergence, 249 in transportation terminals, 244 in tourist destinations, 100 in road constructions, Yarra assured.
Summer Vacation (SUMVAC) 2022 signals the end of the school calendar, hence various activities, outdoor activities at that, are expected to follow right away. The nation is set to observe the Lenten season, commemorate national holidays like Philippine Veterans Week, Araw ng Kagitingan, Labor Day, National Flag Day, Flores de Mayo and fiestas.
PRO 4A also anticipates an influx of visitors, both local and foreign, since many tourist spots in CALABARZON have been re-opening after the long break due to the strict quarantine restrictions in the past two years because Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are putting all police stations and units in full alert status to ensure that safety and security are maintained. All personnel are strongly advised to strictly adhere to the minimum public health standards so we can avoid the resurgence of Covid case”, Yarra said.
The PNP National Headquarters also released a set of operational guidelines to better ensure that minimum public health standards and peace and order are maintained, especially in tourist destinations or places of worship.
Under the new normal, police stations and units are encouraged to constantly coordinate with community-based volunteers and force multipliers whenever there is a significant activity in their area of responsibility.
The PNP and Department of Tourism (DOT) in their localities must work together to produce and distribute safety tips that shall guide the tourists to be safe at all times, Yarra stressed.
“We will activate the tourist police in each police station in the cities and municipalities to assist the tourists and focus on security concerns so that our personnel can immediately take action in their complaints,” Yarra added.
The Ligtas Sumvac 2022 will also encompass the election security operations until the national and local elections on May 9, this year.
Yarra has reminded all unit commanders to double their efforts in ensuring the security and safety of the public during this season and maximize target, hardening measures about the operational guidelines of the Ligtas Sumvac 2022.
He emphasized the cooperation between the members of CALABARZON Police, Support Units, AFP counterparts, other law enforcement agencies, local government units, NGOs, force multipliers, and other civilian volunteer groups for their assistance in providing public safety services.
Yarra also appeals to the public for full support and cooperation in this season. He urges the public to stay vigilant and encourages them to report to the nearest police stations or any law enforcement agencies any suspicious activities in their area.
Safety tips and hotline numbers will be posted on the respective Facebook page of every police station and on the official Facebook page of Police Regional Office -4A to inform the public on the do’s and don’ts during traveling and or going going outside, when leaving their houses and when driving, and be aware of who they should call whenever they need assistance.
Moreover, Yarra assured that PRO-4A is mobilizing a sufficient number of police personnel ready to respond immediately in case of contingencies aside from other participating agencies and AFP counterparts.
“Ang kaligtasan po ng ating mga kababayan ang ating top priority. Dito sa CALABARZON makakaasa kayo na pananatilihin namin ang seguridad ng bawat mamamayan gayundin ang kaligtasang pangkalusugan ng bawat isa sa pamamagitan ng palagiang pagsunod sa health protocol upang maging masaya at ligtas ang bakasyon ng ating mga kababayan”, Yarra added.