Police forces in Northern Luzon have been directed to prepare for the adverse effects of super typhoon "Henry" which is expected to be closest to the Luzon mainland at past midnight on Thursday.
Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said he has already instructed police commanders in Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley Region to mobilize police disaster response units, personnel and equipment for swift reaction to possible contingencies.
The mobilization of manpower and equipment, according to Azurin, will complement the government relief resources were prepositioned within the proximity of designated evacuation centers for possible relief operations in areas threatened by the effects of the weather disturbance.
“On top of the PNP mandate to enforce the law is the duty to perform public safety operations to save lives during this season when normal community activities are momentarily interrupted by extreme weather conditions,” said Azurin.
At Camp Crame in Quezon City, the PNP high command activated the NHQ Disaster Incident Management Task Group (DIMTG), an updated and enhanced plan of action of the PNP on disaster preparedness and response management in support to other concerned agencies.
Azurin said the DIMTG supports the government’s disaster risk reduction and management efforts in accordance with the PNP Critical Incident Management Operational Procedures (CIMOP).
He said the DIMTG has alerted PNP disaster response-capable units such as Special Action Force (SAF), Maritime Group (MG), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), and Police Community Affairs and Development Group (PCADG).
At the same time, Regional Mobile Force Battalions (RMFB) and Provincial and City Mobile Force Companies (PMFC) were instructed to coordinate closely with local DRRMO and Local Government Units for possible enforcement of forced evacuation in areas threatened by storm surge, flooding, and landslide.
Likewise, regional, provincial and city/municipal PNP Units in affected areas were instructed to keep all national highways and major thoroughfares clear of obstructions and debris to allow unhampered passage of troops, rescue units, emergency vehicles and relief supplies.
Weather expert said "Henry" will further enhance the prevailing southwest monsoon which may bring rains over the western section of Luzon beginning tomorrow.
Elsewhere in Luzon, Police Regional Offices in Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Mimaropa (Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) and Metro Manila were also alerted for possible disaster response operations in perennial geo-hazard areas in these regions in anticipation of torrential monsoon rains induced by "Henry".