THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) have assured the public that they are prepared to assist and respond to calamities especially in areas expected to be battered by Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut).
Ompong, as of 10 a.m. Friday, September 14, was moving closer to the country with maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of up to 255 km/h. It was expected to make landfall in Cagayan-Isabela area on Saturday morning, September 15.
Lieutenant General Emmanuel Salamat, commander of the military’s Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), said he ordered the mobilization of the Disaster Response Task Units (DRTU) from Naval Forces Northern Luzon and three Tactical Operations Group from the Philippine Air Force in coordination with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Regional Community Defense Groups (RCDG) of the Army Reserve Command together with the Navy and Air Force Reservists.
He said the units will perform humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations when Typhoon Ompong strikes the provinces under their areas of responsibility, particularly in northern and central Luzon.
Salamat said military training schools like the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Naval Education Center, Training and Doctrine Command of the Philippine Army, along with the Special Operations Command of the AFP are also on standby in case additional assistance in rescue and relief is needed.
“Here in Nolcom, we activated the command center today (September 14) in order to keep a close eye on all of our Disaster Response Task Groups down to DRTUs situated in the ground for the timely disaster response to the calamity-affected areas,” he said.
He said their soldiers are also taking part in the repacking of relief goods, which will be distributed to communities the typhoon will affect.
Salamat said food packs were already prepositioned in Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan, while the others are already in transit to other areas.
The PNP units in Luzon are already in full alert to ensure availability of police forces who will help in disaster response operations.
PNP Police Community Relations Group Director Rhodel Sermonia said aside from the policemen in their respective regions, they also have reserved forces in Camp Crame who are ready to be deployed anywhere, anytime when needed.
He said aside from disaster response and search and rescue operations, policemen are also tasked to ensure the security of the people in evacuation areas and houses of the residents who will be left unattended.
Sermonia advised the public to bring with them when they evacuate their important belongings such as jewelries, cash and documents, as thieves may take advantage of the situation.
Sermonia also reminded the evacuees to double check the security of their houses and not leave any electric appliances plugged.
The PNP and AFP also ensured that disaster response equipment have been prepositioned in areas the typhoon might badly hit.
The public can call the following emergency numbers:
* National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)
911-1406/912-2655/ 912-5668/ 911-1873
* PNP
0917-847-5757
* Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)
426-0219/ 426-3812/ 426-0246
* Philippine Red Cross
143/ 527-0000
* Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)-
882-0925 (flood control), 882-4150-77 local 337 (rescue), 882-0860 (metrobase)
* Department of Transportation and Communication
726-6255
* Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 931-8101 to 07 local 426/ 951-7119
(SunStar Philippines)