CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Pampanga Provincial Police Office will create a Disaster Response Unit that would serve as first responder in the event of any calamity that may hit the province and other parts of Central Luzon.
“There is a need to create a dedicated quick disaster response unit ready to be deployed in any given situation,” said Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, director of the PPPO, on the sidelines of the Provincial Advisory Council meeting held at the Bale Katimawan, PPPO Headquarters.
Fajardo said she noticed the urgency of creating a special unit for disaster response during the April 22 magnitude 6.1 earthquake where policemen rushed to ground zero but acted only as crowd control and security of the area.
“If only our police has the proper training and knowledge in terms of search and rescue in the event of disasters, we might have saved more lives pinned under the rubble, being the first responders,” Fajardo explained.
She added that the PPPO will formally write a letter to Governor Lilia Pineda, chairman of the Peace and Order Council, for the support in terms of training and logistics of policemen who will join the Disaster Response Unit training.
“Napansin ko lamang kasi ang kasabay ko dun sa Chuzon Supermarket sa search and rescue operations ay mga personnel ng Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), kaya nga nakita ko na kailangan mag-train din ang PNP ng special unit for search and rescue,” Fajardo pointed out.
Fajardo noted however that while the provincial government has an existing search and rescue team, creating a police unit specializing on disaster response is a must as the police are deployed in the ground in every municipality.
“Magiging mabilis at easy access for the police to respond kapag may disaster dahil nandiyan na agad sila at alam agad nila ang kanilang gagawin. Kailangan na lang na magkaroon ng proper training,” said Fajardo.
The PPO direcor expressed optimism that her request with the provincial government will gain positive action from the Provincial Board. “Kung kailangan natin mag-lobby para lang maapprove ay gagawin natin.”
At least five persons were pinned to death and nine others were rescued alive under the rubble of Chuzon Supermarket following the magnitude 6.1 earthquake.