QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The Philippine National Police has drawn up its own disaster preparedness plan ahead of the expected entry of Typhoon Chedeng into the Philippine Area of Responsibility today.
Upon the direction of DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, PNP Officer-in-Charge, Police Deputy Director General Leonardo A Espina ordered the activation of Letter of Instruction “Saklolo”, an updated and enhanced plan of action of the PNP on disaster preparedness and response management in support to other concerned agencies.
Oplan “Saklolo” prescribes the support strategy, operational concept, and scheme of implementation to accomplish the PNP’s support mission in times of disaster and calamity situations.
“We are activating our Disaster Response Plan ahead of time to allow concerned units time to prepare their equipment and resources, and to organize and train their personnel for the mission at hand, “ Espina said.
According to PNP Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Generoso R Cerbo Jr., the PNP Special Action Force, Maritime Group and Regional Public Safety Battalions have Search and Rescue Units capable of rapid deployment and quick response to disaster emergencies.
These units, including Police Regional Offices along the path of Typhoon Chedeng have been instructed to undertake precautionary measures and other disaster response operations such as forward deployment and pre-positioning of Search and Rescue (SAR) assets, Cerbo explained.
PNP launched Oplan “Saklolo” for Typhoon Chedeng
