Police equipment and personnel were prepositioned in landslide and flood-prone areas in northern Luzon in anticipation of a worse-case scenario that might be triggered as typhoon “Ramil” made its landfall on Friday.
 
Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said they have started deploying rescue teams and other equipment as early as Tuesday following weather experts’ assessment that “Ramil” packed strong winds and expected to damp more rains in northern Luzon which was recently pummeled by tropical storm “Pepeng.”
 
“Newly-acquired inflatable rubber boats (at least 11) propelled by powerful outboard motors were deployed to the Cagayan Valley Region and in the Ilocos-Pangasinan Region as part of proactive disaster preparedness initiatives in response to possible contingencies,” said Espina. “Also deployed to Northern Luzon were police utility vehicles and amphibious multi-role V150 tactical armored vehicles that can also be utilized for rescue operations in flooded and rugged terrain,” he added.
 
Espina said regional commanders in northern Luzon have already been instructed to activate their respective Disaster Response Plans and in mobilizing government resources and manpower for rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations.
 
A police regional commander also serves as a chairman of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC).
 
Aside from an instruction to place all affected areas under highest police alert to maximize the deployment of personnel, Espina said a number of policemen from other PNP special units were also prepositioned in the affected areas in case of rescue or relief missions.
 
“Search and rescue units of the Special Action Force, Maritime Group and  Regional Mobile Groups in Northern Luzon were placed on highest alert condition and operational readiness to respond to emergencies,” the official said.

Espina explained that other personnel and equipment are now placed on standby and would be ready for deployment in case the regional commanders request for more through the PNP National Headquarters (NHQ) Disaster Incident Management Task Group which operates under the National Disaster and Coordinating Council.

The NHQ Disaster Incident Management Task Group, headed by Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, Director of the Police Community Relations Group (PCRG), coordinates all disaster rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations of the different police unit and accredited non-government organizations.