Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., on Wednesday expressed his full support for the nationwide review of earthquake contingency plans of national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs), as well as the conduct of enhanced earthquake drills amid the recent tremors that struck different parts of the country.
“The PNP fully supports calls to strengthen earthquake preparedness across all levels of government. We are currently enhancing our disaster response protocols and ensuring that all police units are equipped and ready to assist in search, rescue, and relief operations when needed,” Nartatez said.
Last week, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Chairman and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. ordered a review of local contingency plans to ensure that disaster protocols of NGAs and LGUs are validated and up-to-date in the wake of destructive earthquakes in Davao Oriental, Cebu, and other provinces in recent weeks.
The NGAs and LGUs were also urged to conduct wide-scale earthquake drills, particularly in public areas such as schools, government offices, and other facilities, to strengthen their readiness.
In response, Nartatez directed the chiefs, directorial staff, national support units, police regional offices, and specialized and elite units to review and update their contingency and evacuation plans in coordination with local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils.
All units are likewise ordered to conduct regular earthquake drills to ensure that both police personnel and the public know the proper response procedures during and after a quake, in addition to the quarterly simultaneous earthquake drills spearheaded by the Office of Civil Defense.
The acting PNP chief also emphasized that earthquake preparedness should involve everyone in the organization. “Everyone must participate,” he said.
“Every police officer must know his or her role in disaster response, securing vital installations, assisting in evacuation, and maintaining peace and order in affected areas,” Nartatez emphasized.
