THE Police Regional Office-Cordillera have commended the personnel of the Benguet Provincial Police Office for being visible during the onset of the continuous rains last week.
PRO-Cordillera Director Rolando Nana said the immediate reaction of their responding personnel to landslides and erosions reported to their field offices in various areas of the province have proven to be a major part in terms of rescue.
"Benguet was hit by landslides during the five days of rains in the province last week and through their activities posted on social media, they were the first responders aside from helping the communities affected through clearing operations," the Director said.
The municipalities of Mankayan, Kibungan, Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Itogon and Tuba experienced landslides and soil erosions during the continuous rains last week.
"Even casualties who were swept away by the strong current of water and those which were victims of soil erosions and slides were responded well by our personnel of the Benguet PPO," Nana stated.
Nana lauded the timely reaction and rescue operations of the Benguet PPO based on reports forwarded to their field offices and pointed out the importance of communication during disasters and suggested measures to improve the reaction time of first responders.
"During our meeting with our Regional DRRM Chairman General Ruben Carandang, we suggested for the presence of an inventory of our heavy equipments that would be pre-positioned at the landslide prone areas, aside from making sure that our operatives are in a safe environment to effectively react to a call," Nana added.
Benguet Provincial Police Office Director Police Senior Superintendent Lyndon Mencio explained during the weekly Kapihan sa Benguet the personnel of Benguet PPO have undergone first aid and rescue trainings which have equipped them in performing rescue operations.
"Our personnel does not only focus on peace and order but in times of disasters, are capable of conducting rescue, retrieval and first aid making them effective first responders. These trainings that they undergo is very important particularly during disasters and calamities," Mencio said.
