PNP activates Oplan Saklolo for 'Chedeng'

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has drawn up its own disaster preparedness plan ahead of the expected entry of typhoon Chedeng into the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday.

 

Upon the direction of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, PNP officer-in-charge Police Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina ordered the activation of  Oplan "Saklolo."

 

Oplan “Saklolo” prescribes the support strategy, operational concept, and scheme of implementation to accomplish the PNP’s support mission in times of disaster and calamity situations.

 

"We are activating our disaster response plan ahead of time to allow concerned units time to prepare their equipment and resources, and to organize and train their personnel for the mission at hand," Espina said.

 

The PNP said that the Special Action Force, Maritime Group and Regional Public Safety Battalions have search and rescue units capable of rapid deployment and quick response to disaster emergencies.

 

These units, including police regional offices along the path of typhoon Chedeng have been instructed to undertake precautionary measures and other disaster response operations such as forward deployment and pre-positioning of search and rescue assets.