(File photo: Philippine National Police)
Police forces in southern and northern parts of Luzon were alerted for disaster response amid threats of widespread flooding and landslides due to tropical depression “Mirasol”.
Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., acting chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the alert order was already relayed to police commanders in areas affected and would be affected by the weather disturbance.
“I have already directed our police commanders in the affected areas to coordinate with their respective local government units and disaster response agencies for a unified effort to ensure public safety,” said Nartatez.
He said part of the police response is the prepositioning of police personnel and police equipment and mobility assets in identified high-risk provinces to ensure immediate response when necessary.
Weather experts said “Mirasol” will continue bringing rains in the southern part of Luzon although it is expected to traverse the northern part of Luzon on its way to the country’s area of responsibility.
At least 14 areas were already placed under storm signal number in Northern Luzon.
In its latest bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of Mirasol was located in the vicinity of San Agustin, Isabela, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h, gusts of up to 90 km/h, and moving west-northwest at 25 km/h.
Nartatez said police commanders were also directed to maximize the strategic deployment of personnel for various disaster responses.
“From preemptive evacuation to search and rescue, your PNP will exert extra efforts to fulfill our goal to lessen the impact of ‘Tropical Depression Mirasol’ to the lives of our kababayan,” said Nartatez.
He also recognized that the safety of police personnel assigned to areas that would be on the path of Tropical Depression Mirasol remains a priority.
“The welfare of our personnel is also a priority. Before deployment, they are given proper protective equipment. We have also directed commanders on the ground to strictly monitor the condition of their men and women, and to rotate deployments when necessary,” said Nartatez.
He said contingency measures, including medical teams and relief supplies for PNP personnel, are in place to ensure they can continue their duties without compromising their own safety.