PNP to launch summer public safety plan

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP), through the Directorate for Police Community Relations, is set to launch this week a public safety plan for the summer season dubbed “Ligtas Sumvac 2019.”

PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde said on Monday that the security plan will involve all police operations on road safety and motorist assistance, route security, traffic management, and anti-criminality along major travel routes, places of convergence, and tourist destinations.

“The PNP assures the public that sufficient units are on standby, ready to respond to any situation and act on contingencies,” Albayalde said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

According to Albayalde, “Ligtas Sumvac 2019” will also set the operational guidelines for concerned police units to secure vital installations and implement target hardening measures in public infrastructure, transportation terminals, commercial establishments, airports, and seaports.

“The summer security plan begins on school break through the Holy Week in April, and throughout the Fiesta and Flores de Mayo season in May, overlapping the entire 4-month election period, until the opening of classes in June when students go back to the urban centers from the provinces,” said Albayalde.

He said the presence of police will also be intensified through increased mobile patrols, the establishment of police assistance desks, and deployment of road safety marshalls in places of convergence and crime-prone areas. /ee