The philippine national police (pnp) is reinforcing its disaster response operations as rains from the enhanced southwest monsoon or 'habagat' continue to affect vulnerable areas. pnp chief gen. jose melencio c. nartatez jr. emphasized that police units remain deployed nationwide and more will be mobilized as needed to assist communities in need. 'our priority is to keep our personnel and resources where they are most needed. we will continue rescue and evacuation operations:he Philippine National Police (PNP) is reinforcing its disaster response operations as rains from the enhanced southwest monsoon or 'habagat' continue to affect vulnerable areas. PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. emphasized that police units remain deployed nationwide and more will be mobilized as needed to assist communities in need. 'Our priority is to keep our personnel and resources where they are most needed. We will continue rescue and evacuation operations, secure evacuation centers, clear critical roads, and deliver ass istance to communities that remain affected,' he said in a statement.
According to Philippines News Agency, PNP teams have already rescued 180 individuals and supported 164 relief operations amid the incessant rains in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces. A total of 689 policemen have been mobilized, with patrol vehicles, buses, and trucks providing Libreng Sakay services to transport stranded residents in the affected areas. 'I commend our personnel who continue serving despite difficult conditions. I remind you to remain compassionate and professional even in difficult conditions,' Nartatez said.
Police units were also tasked to intensify monitoring of flood-prone areas and maintain order in evacuation centers. Coordination with local governments, disaster response agencies, and volunteers has been strengthened to ensure timely delivery of relief. 'To our fellow Filipinos who are still waiting for assistance, your PNP is here to help. We will continue coordinating with local governments and other response agencies to reach you and bring you to safety,' Nartatez said. This is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla to strengthen disaster response and ensure the safety of affected communities.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) vowed to address any gaps identified in the emergency response. In a press briefing held at Quezon City on Tuesday, DILG Undersecretary for Public Safety Jed Patrick E. Mabilog said the DILG is committed to establishing the complete facts, determining accountability where warranted, and addressing weaknesses identified in the Unified 911 system and its emergency-response network.
He remarked on the incident involving 71-year-old Omar Askri of Taguig City, who suffered a stroke on Aug. 15 and later passed away. 'We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the Askri family. We will continue the investigation, establish the complete facts, correct whatever needs to be corrected, and translate the lessons from this incident into concrete improvements,' Mabilog told reporters. Based on initial findings, the 911 system recorded a hold time of approximately three minutes and 23 seconds before the call of Basti Askri, the patient's nephew, reached the assigned 911 call taker. Within one minute and 25 seconds, a three-way conference call was initiated among the caller, the 911 call taker, and the Taguig Command Center (TCC).
The TCC acknowledged the emergency and committed to dispatch a response vehicle. Initial findings also indicate that the responding team encountered difficulty locating the patient's exact location and was unable to establish contact with the caller for additional directions. Mabilog stressed, however, that the exact dispatch time, attempted calls, movement of the response vehicle, and actual arrival time remain subject to verification as the investigation continues.
'If any of our personnel is found na meron silang kakulangan o kasalanan sa incident na ito, definitely they will face legal action from the department,' Mabilog assured. 'The system works, but every major public safety system must continuously improve. We acknowledge the gaps this incident may have revealed, we take responsibility for addressing them, and we will use this experience to build a stronger, faster, better coordinated, and better equipped emergency-response network,' he said.
With Unified 911 currently handling an average of approximately 70,000 calls daily, Mabilog said the department is also looking into increasing the number of call takers to strengthen capacity and reduce queue times. He stressed that the volume of calls does not diminish the department's responsibility to continuously improve the system and ensure that emergency calls are handled as quickly and efficiently as possible. 'Every gap we identify will make Unified 911 stronger, faster, and better. In an emergency, trust 911,' Mabilog said.
The DILG assured the public that the findings of the investigation will guide the necessary corrective measures to strengthen coordination, response capacity, and accountability across the Unified 911 emergency-response network. Mabilog, together with DILG Undersecretary for Public Affairs and Communications Rolando Puno and Emergency 911 National Office Executive Director Francis Fajardo, personally went to Barangay Maharlika in Taguig on Monday in an effort to meet with the Askri family. The DILG said it will continue reaching out to the family and directly update them on the results of the investigation.
