THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is preparing for the new normal as part of the plan to reopen its regulatory offices, a police official said on Tuesday, May 26.
PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said they are most likely to resume the operations of regulatory offices particularly those in Camp Crame once the National Capital Region (NCR) is placed under general community quarantine (GCQ).
“Bahagi ng ating paghahanda ang preparation din sa pagbubukas ng frontline service katulad ng issuance and renewal of licenses and permits para sa mga baril at sa permit to carry firearm outside residence ganun din ang mga renewal at issuance of license para sa mga security guards mga security agencies, lalo na ang police clearances sa lahat ng ating mga police stations,” he said.
“Bahagi sa ating preparation ay mga safety protocols pa rin at minimum health protocols na kailangan ipatupad para maiwasan ang pagkakasakit ng Covid-19 at maiwasan din natin ang pagkalat nito, kaya sa muling pagbabalik ng ating mga frontline services na yan isasaalang alang natin ang kalusugan at kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan,” he added.
He said also as part of safety protocols, each civilian visitor will have to fill out forms in case contact tracing is necessary and that they will limit the number of persons who can transact per day to ensure the strict observation of physical distancing.
Banac said they will also take in consideration the availability of public transport system and the opportunity of the public to transact with their concerned offices.
He said the PNP is also strengthening the PNP’s capability to make such transaction online.
“Kabilang din of course ang preparation natin para gawing online na ang mga transactions na yan pati na rin ang payments gagawin nating online. Ang lahat ng ito ay kabilang sa mga preparation ng PNP kaya napakahalaga na ngayon palang pinaghahandaan na natin ang new normal ng ating mga frontline regulatory services,” he said.
Meantime, Banac said that the PNP will continue the conduct of checkpoints but this time, they will shift focus to anti-criminality and illegal drugs.
“Yes tuloy-tuloy parin ang pagsasagawa ng ating checkpoints ang ating police patrols visibility patrols ay magpapatuloy pero ito ay nakafocus na sa anti-criminality at anti-drug campaign kailangan natin mapanatili ang malakas na presensya ng kapulisan para sa pag-anticipate natin na may possibility na tumaas muli ang bilang nga mga krimen,” he said.
“Kaya napakahalaga na malakas pa rin ang presensya ng ating mga pulis sa frontline, ito ay nagpapaalala pa rin sa ating mga mamamayan na sundin pa rin ang minimum health standards na pinapatupad ng pamahalaan tulad ng physical distancing at paggamit ng face mask,” he added.
Earlier, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said the NCR may be placed under GCQ on June 1, under which quarantine protocols will be more relaxed. (SunStar Philippines)