PNP gears up for ‘Falcon’

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor. INQUIRER.net PHOTO/JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS

THE Philippine National Police has activated implementation plan “Saklolo” ahead of Typhoon “Falcon” (international name: Chon-ham) to ensure availability of PNP personnel and resources for disaster incident management operations in areas threatened by the weather disturbance.

This as Luzon started to experience heavy rains brought by southwest monsoon or “habagat” that was enhanced by Tropical Storm “Egay” (international name: Linfa) as it left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday. Falcon, although it would not make landfall, is also expected to intensify monsoon rains in the coming days.

Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesperson, said in a press briefing on Wednesday that the PNP is closely monitoring potential disaster emergencies in Metro Manila and in other parts of the country.

The PNP’s Implan Saklolo mobilizes police units, led by regional and provincial directors and chiefs of police, to prepare for disaster and response management in cooperation with concerned government agencies.

Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Franco of the Directorate for Police Community Relations said the PNP, as part of the disaster-mitigating council, has activated its disaster incident management task group under the PNP’s Critical Incident Management Operational Procedures formed to draw-up disaster response plans and mitigating actions.

The CIMOP is headed by Police Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., Deputy PNP Chief for Operations.

“All Police Regional Offices in areas that are expected to experience extreme weather conditions brought by Tropical Cyclone Falcon have been alerted to muster preposition equipment and personnel in areas prone to flash floods, landslides, and storm surge,” said Franco.

Concerned police units will coordinate with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and local government units for possible enforcement of forced evacuation in high-risk communities.

As for the post-disaster efforts of the PNP, Mayor said police forces will assist in the recovery and rehabilitation in typhoon-struck areas by providing security and traffic management during relief operations, maintaining law and order in disaster-affected areas, among others.

Mayor also encouraged the public to report emergency incidents and be guided by storm survival tips through the PNP’s official Facebook page and Twitter account (@pnppio).

By Wednesday evening, Falcon is expected to enhance further the monsoon rains. It packed maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 160 kph.