Pinaghahanda ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ang mga unit nito sa Bicol Region para sa posibleng lahar flow at iba pang public safety hazards malapit sa Mayon Volcano dahil sa banta ng malakas na ulan mula kay Tropical Depression (TD) Caloy.
Nauna nang nagpaabot ng concern ang Office of Civil Defense sa posibleng lahar flows matapos pumasok si Caloy sa Philippine Area of Responsibility noong Saturday evening.
Batay sa 11 a.m. update, ang sentro ng TD Caloy ay tinatayang nasa 770 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
Ayon kay PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., naka-standby ang police units sa Bicol Region para sa evacuation support at road-clearing operations. Isasagawa ito sa koordinasyon ng local government units at disaster risk reduction offices, alinsunod sa instruction ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
“We are in constant coordination with various government agencies to provide all the assistance in the interest of public safety. We are prioritizing the safety of residents and ensuring access routes remain passable for emergency response,” ani Nartatez sa pahayag nitong Sunday.
Inatasan din ni Nartatez ang police units na tiyaking handa ang vehicles at equipment para sa mabilis na deployment kung kailanganin.
Nagpaalala rin ang PNP sa publiko na sundin ang advisories at instructions ng authorities, lalo na sa mga nakatira malapit sa river channels at volcanic slopes na prone sa lahar flows.
“The PNP urges the public to follow the advisories and instructions of authorities for their own safety. We ask everyone to remain alert and cooperative, especially those living near river channels and volcanic slopes that are prone to lahar flows,” dagdag ni Nartatez. /Bistado