POLICE units in Central Visayas are now consistently meeting the Philippine National Police’s five-minute response time standard in emergency situations, a shift that regional police leadership calls the “new normal.”
Police Brigadier General Redrico Atienza Maranan, director of Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO 7), said the initiative reflects the command’s commitment to faster, smarter, and more technology-driven police operations across the region.
“This is part of our thrust to ensure swift police assistance and visibility, especially in highly urbanized areas. We want the public to know that when they call for help, police will be there in five minutes or less,” Maranan said.
In a recent simulation exercise (Simex), Maranan reported that officers from various units were able to respond to scenarios within the target timeframe.
“I gave at least three scenarios, and our responding officers arrived in less than five minutes. Some even responded within two to three minutes,” Maranan said.
Drones as frontline eyes
Maranan highlighted the significant improvement in the use of drones by police personnel.
In the past months, drone operators were still adjusting, but Maranan noted significant progress in their proficiency.
He said police personnel are now more adept at using drones, which are being deployed ahead of responding teams to provide a bird’s-eye view of the scene.
He emphasized that sending drones ahead of responders allows for faster situational assessment and better preparation for the arriving units.
Template for urban emergency response
According to Maranan, the five-minute response time is now the standard operational template for police responses in key cities such as Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.
For more remote areas, the police use the “Most Reasonable Time” (MRT) approach, ensuring the earliest possible response based on location and available resources.
Maranan also noted that the region’s seven cities outside Metro Cebu, in Cebu province and in Bohol, are also now fully equipped.
Their units now have body-worn cameras, motorcycles, alternative reporting devices, and operational drones. (CAV)