PNP mobilizes teams to assist quake-hit areas in North Luzon

By Aaron Recuenco

The Philippine National Police mobilized its personnel who assisted mostly in road-clearing operations in Northern Luzon.
    This, as several roads, particularly in Cordillera Administrative Region, were rendered impassable due to landslides that were triggered by the 7.0 magnitude quake that hit the northern part of Luzon.
    Some roads were cleared, while work was on at press time to clear other thoroughfares.
    Police Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao, Jr., PNP officer-in-charge, said he instructed the PNP Area commander in     Northern Luzon, Police Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., to mobilize the Regional Mobile Force Battalions and Provincial Mobile Force Companies for road-clearing and disaster response operations.
    “The PNP high command, through the Disaster Incident Management Task Group has instructed the Regional and Provincial Police Offices to initiate efforts to clear main roads and thoroughfares of debris and road hazards to allow unhampered passage of emergency services and vehicles transporting essential disaster-response equipment and personnel to areas affected by tremor,” said Danao.
    In Cordillera Administrative Region, Police Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, police regional director, ordered all his commanders to continue assisting the affected residents in their areas of responsibility.
    “All provincial directors from the provincial offices of PROCor are now on the ground to administer and provide all the necessary police assistance to the affected communities,” said Lee.
    He said 182 search and rescue- trained personnel were deployed while 1,978 personnel were activated as Reactionary Standby Support Forces.
    Based on the reports from police stations across the region, Lee said more than 150 residents were already evacuated, 56 infrastructures were reported damaged and 31 national and local roads are not passable.
    “At least 106 people were injured, with three casualties (dead),” said Lee.
    “At least 36 areas, on the other hand, have no electricity,” he added.