RIZAL PROVINCE, Philippines — Eight police officials affected by a reshuffle at the Rizal Police Provincial Office assumed new posts this week.

Affected by the revamp were Supt. Rommel Estolano; Supt. Samuel Delorino; Supt. Donato Bait; Chief Inspector Edcille Canals; Chief Inspector Resty Soriano; and Inspectors San Juan Aquino, Carlos  Hogat, and Christian Dee Cacho. Estolano, erstwhile chief of the Rodriguez Police Station, assumed the position of chief of the Police Community Relations Branch of the PPO and the Public Information Office.

In the accomplishment report submitted to Mayor Cecilio Hernandez of Rodriguez, the PPO said it has recorded a 32.36 percent decrease in crime volume this year compared to last year. (Nel B. Andrade)

Flood solutions

DAGUPAN CITY — To solve the problem and mitigate effects of flooding in Dagupan City, the Sangguniang panlungsod here passed two resolutions. Authored by Councilor Ma. Librada M. Reyna, the resolutions urged barangay officials to encourage constituents to plant trees in their backyard and to conduct continuous Clean and Green Programs within communities.

Councilor Brian C. Lim said tree can lessen flooding by absorbing water, while the cleanup drive can help by unclogging estuaries, drainage and other waterways. (Liezle Basa Inigo)

Suspects nabbed

CAMP GEN. VICENTE LIM, Laguna — Three suspected members of the “Alvarez Drug Group” were nabbed last Monday by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during a buy-bust operation in Alaminos, this province. PDEA 4-A Director Emerson Margate identified the suspects as Florencio Llamado, Ramon Alvarez and Reynaldo Alvarez.

The suspects were arrested after they sold “shabu” to PDEA agents in exchange for P23,000 in Poblacion 3 last Monday morning. Margate said the group has been under surveillance for the past several months. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

Emergency response

BALER, Aurora — The United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) reveals that the Philippines is the world's third most vulnerable country to natural disasters because of the frequency of calamities, such as typhoons, floods, landslides and earthquake, combined with the country’s ineffectual disaster preparedness programs.

This prompted Senator Edgardo Angara to call for an improved disaster management system in the country. “By now we should have put in place a comprehensive emergency response system and risk reduction program to minimize damage. Disaster mitigation is key to reducing the effects of these inevitable natural disasters,” Angara said. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

Security cameras

TAYTAY — Police attributed the significant decrease in street crimes, and bank and pawnshop robberies over the past several months to security cameras installed in main thoroughfares of the province. Supt. Arthur Masungsong, chief of the Taytay Police Station, said the local government’s investment on closed circuit television (CCTV) is paying off.

 Masungsong said that based on the police station’s latest crime statistics, there has been no bank robbery and pawnshop robbery in the past few months. Other street crimes have reportedly significantly reduced as criminals are apparently aware of the CCTVs. (Nel B. Andrade)