Cops train on disaster response

The Cebu City policemen are ready to spring into action to help residents distressed by natural disasters like floods.

Starting yesterday more than 50 members of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) were trained on disaster’s quick response. These policemen come from different police stations.

Chief Inspector Enrique Belciña, chief of Police Community Relation (PCR) said that police stations were required send three police officers to attend a three day seminar.

They were trained the basic weather forecast and water rescue techniques.

CCPO director, Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el Jr. said the police are already required to identify flood-prone areas in their respective jurisdictions and to be always vigilant during extreme weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the city government has already started dredging operations of rivers and creeks and urged nearby residents not to throw garbage that would lead to clogging which ultimately results to flooding, endangering lives of residents in the area.

Among the trainers are Cathy Yso, chief of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and Oscar Tabada, chief of the Mactan Station of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Tabada said it is an important that policemen are trained on disaster quick response as they are among the first disaster responders./Correspondent Chito O. Aragon