PNP-Bicol prepares to clear roads for gov’t rescue, relief ops

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol on Sunday assured coordination with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (RDRRMO) as it prepares to clear roads for government rescue and relief responses to Super Typhoon Pepito.

“Ang Police Regional Office 5 ay tuloy-tuloy na nakikipag-coordinate sa ating OCD, sa Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office,” Bicol Regional Director General Andre Dizon said in a zoom interview with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

“Catanduanes po ang binabantayan natin dahil ‘yung siyam na munisipyo po doon hanggang sa ngayon, wala pa pong contact ‘yung ating PNP,” he said.

“Yung pinaghahandaan ng PNP ay ‘yung pagdagsa ng mga relief goods at assistance via Tabaco port. Yung ating Highway Patrol Group ay ilalatag po natin gaya ng ginawa natin sa Camarines Sur noong nakaraang Bagyong Kristine. Sila ang nag-manage ng mga behikulo para organisado po na maisakay sa mga barko patungong Catanduanes,” he added.

Dizon said the stretch of Maharlika Highway in Albay, from Matnog to Camarines Norte is passable. They are waiting instructions from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to allow public transport vehicles from Manila to enter Bicol and vice versa, he added.

Dizon reported major damages in some PNP stations. He said line communications are affected and a number of roads are blocked in the region.

“‘Yung natanggap natin na video galing kay provincial director ng Catanduanes PPO. Palibhasa, ‘yung ating mga police station ay located sa kabayanan. Nakita po natin ‘yung damage, may mga major damages po sa ibang istasyon ng ating PNP po doon,” he said.

“Yung komunikasyon po sa buong Catanduanes, ‘yung tanging Virac at San Andres lang po ang mayroon. At doon nga po sa San Andres, nagkaroon lang po ng road blocking dahil may natumbang puno,” he said.

Region 5 needs more family food packs (FFPs), and non-food items like medicines, the official said. Evacuated to safe places are 138,714 families or 579,652 individuals, he added.