Police ready for disasters

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the limited facilities, the police are prepared for any disaster, especially landslides and floods, which may strike Cebu once again.

Chief Supt. Samuel Yordan, Deputy Regional Director for Administration of the Police Regional Office-7, said they are ready although they still need additional training for their personnel in terms on disaster risk reduction.

“We have enough manpower so far but in terms of gadgets, we have very limited gadgets. We only have four available buses or trucks to transport equipment and have limited supply materials in case of disasters,” Yordan said.

Yordan said that for ordinary weather disturbances, the respective police offices automatically monitor the affected area and deploy personnel.

In Cebu City, city police director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said they are in constant coordination with the City Council in their response and mitigation process during disasters.

“We assist during evacuation and secure the areas prone to landslides. Naa ta’y team ready mo-respond anytime,” he said, adding that the CCPO has a plan book of their operations related to disaster response.

Mandaue City Police Office director Noel Gillamac said they have already identified the barangays under his jurisdiction that are landslide-prone.

“Ang atong kapolisan are well-prepared na moresponde og alarm especially sa mga barangay na maapektuhan sa lunop ug baha,” Gillamac said.

“Naa tay gi-assign mga pulis, we call them as community cops, na motrabaho during rainy season. Tua sila sa mga barangay to inform the residents of the latest danger posed or bahin sa baha para ma-aware ang mga tawo and mag-prepare,” Gillamac added.

The police directors said they are also in constant communication with the barangay for them to immediately respond as soon as they receive requests for assistance.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natuel, chief of the PRO-7 Police Community Relations, yesterday said he has already talked with Office of Civil Defense chairman Neil Angelo Sanchez regarding PRO-7’s plan to train policemen for search and rescue operations.

Natuel, who recently attended a search and rescue operation competition among the police personnel in Camp Crame, said he will teach policemen here what he learned.

Meanwhile, Cebu will continue to experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms brought about by the so-called “monsoon trough”.

Alice Carnasa, weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration-7 said that monsoon trough is an extension of the low pressure area that brings heavy clouds.

“Tungod aning monsoon through, makasinati ang Cebu og pag dag-um ug uwan-uwan,” Carnasa said.

She added that Cebu is expected to continue experiencing this kind of weather disturbance until today.

Currently, there are two low pressure areas in Philippine jurisdiction which are located at 710 kilometers East Southeast of Tuguegarao City and at 70 kilometers East Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

The weather bureau added that coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate. — (FREEMAN)