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Puno orders new rubber boats deployed in Northern Luzon

10/22/2009

Interior Secretary Ronnie Puno yesterday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately deploy its newly procured rubber boats in Northern Luzon provinces to augment the government’s preparations for rescue and relief operations in areas endangered by typhoon “Ramil.”

Puno led the blessing and turnover for 75 new rubber boats, along with other vehicles, equipment and supplies procured by the PNP as part of its modernization program during simple rites at the PNP Grandstand at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said the first batch of rubber boats were delivered ahead of schedule to meet the PNP’s urgent requirements in carrying out relief and rescue operations during times of calamities.

“The new rubber boats will be immediately deployed to the North which is being threatened with one of the strongest typhoons that we expect this year,” Puno said. “We pray that the typhoon will not cause much harm and damage but we must be always be prepared.”

The rubber boats will come in batches in the next two weeks, with the first batch to be sent to Northern Luzon where these are immediately needed, Puno said. The rest will be deployed in “forward rescue centers” set up by the PNP across the country.

The new PNP acquisitions also include 340 patrol jeeps; 137 light utility vehicles (Toyota Innova); 100 computer sets; 50 flat screen monitors; 90 sniper rifles; 1,000 shotguns; 100 grenade launchers; 234 binoculars; 600 tactical vests; 600 ballistic helmets; 600 load bearing vests; 200 units of Global Positioning System (GPS); and 14 armored vehicles.

Puno also led the turnover of equipment for the PNP Logistics Information System to the provincial PNP offices in Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal.

Motor vehicles were also awarded by Puno to the mayors and chiefs of police of Simunul in Tawi-tawi, San Isidro in Surigao del Norte, and Placer in Surigao del Norte.

Last January 2009, Puno also led the blessing rites for the turnover of 664 patrol vehicles, 214 light vehicles and 150 motorcycles and 24 SOCO (Scene-of-the-Crime- Operation) vans.

The DILG chief noted that following the recent calamities that hit the country, the PNP has found itself undertaking a new rol e— which is to actively take the lead in rescue and relief operations in times of disasters — on top of its mandate of protecting the people

Puno said “it was a matter of great pride” for him when he personally witnessed the men and women of the PNP at the forefront of rescue and relief efforts during and following the onslaught of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

He noted that the PNP’s efforts to reform its organization through its moral transformation program under Verzosa has now started to bear fruit as shown by the recognition it has been reaping even from foreign institutions.

The PNP, Puno noted, has been cited by the Washington-based Center for International Private Enterprise for being among six Philippine government agencies that have excelled in reforming their respective institutions.

The Center for International Private Enterprise, headed by John Sullivan and its local partner, the Institute for Solidarity in Asia — a Makati-based organization headed by former Finance Secretary Jesus Estanislao — has commended the PNP for its success in public governance.

“So, I wish to congratulate the chief PNP and also the men and women who work with him in transforming their organization to the best that it can possibly be,” Puno said.