The Philippine National Police (PNP) has activated a task force to help the government mitigate the effects of a possible outbreak of a deadlier strain of Influenza H1N1 virus.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said they are now preparing for the possible second wave of H1N1 outbreak and among their initial response is to conduct a review of the security policies its implemented when the disease caused by air-borne virus killed 30 people and infected some 5,000 when it first swept the country a few months ago.

“As a member of the National Task Force on Pandemic Influenza, the PNP is tasked with the enforcement of quarantine procedures and for rapid containment in case the pandemic flu will manifest here in our country. It is better that we are all prepared for any eventuality,” said Verzosa.

Verzosa said he had already activated the NHQ Disaster Management Task Group on Pandemic Influenza and ordered a review and necessary adjustments in the PNP Pandemic Influenza Response Plan for submission to the Department of Health (DOH) as part of the Overall Action Plan to address the situation.

He also instructed the Task Group, headed by Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, director of the Police Community Relations Group (PCRG), to work closely with the Department of Health (DoH) and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in monitoring the national and international situation of the H1N1 Influenza.

The PNP leadership started preparing for the outbreak before the country recorded the first case of H1N1 infection in the country.

One of the measures implemented was the conduct of specialized training for different PNP Units that compose the NHQ Disaster Management Task Group on Pandemic Influenza.

The training was completed for personnel of the Aviation Security Group, Maritime Group, Special Action Force, Crime Laboratory, and Health Service.

Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, said personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, laboratory suits or gowns and other necessary equipment will be procured for use of frontline PNP personnel who will be directly involved in implementing quarantine procedures.

“Meantime, we shall implement ‘force protection’ to educate our personnel on the different aspects of addressing this concern. The Aviation Security Group will be the first to be subjected to briefing by PNP doctors considering that they are our frontliners who work jointly with the DOH in securing entry ports,” said Espina.