PHILIPPINE National Police Chief General Guillermo Eleazar has ordered the setting up of Police Assistance Desks in evacuation centers where displaced residents of Batangas were moved amid the continuous threat of the Taal Volcano rumbling.
This is to ensure the security, safety and health of the evacuees, he said.
Based on latest data from the Batangas Police Provincial Office, more than 1,600 evacuees are staying in at least 10 evacuation centers in the municipalities of Laurel, Talisay, Balete and Agoncillo.
There were concerns, however, on the health safety of the evacuees on the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with some people fearing that the evacuation centers could be a ground for mass infection.
“I have already directed the Commander, JTF COVID Shield and the Regional Director (RD), Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A to set up Police Assistance Desks in all the evacuation centers in Batangas to ensure that their security and health safety are assured 24/7,” said PGen. Eleazar.
“Kasama dito ang pag-designate ng COVID-19 protocol officer na makikipagtulungan sa local health office at LGU upang hangga’t maaari ay matiyak na napapatupad ang minimum public health safety protocol sa mga evacuation centers,” he added.
PGen. Eleazar also lauded PRO4A Director PBGen. Eliseo Cruz and Batangas PPO Director Col. Glicerio Cansilao for the immediate actions on the evacuation and other needs of the people affected by the continued rumbling of Taal Volcano.
Police personnel and PNP mobile assets were already deployed and placed on standby in various locations in the affected areas in Batangas.
Checkpoints were also set up in strategic areas in Batangas to prevent the return of local residents and deny tourists and other people entry into the declared danger zones.