36K rescue personnel, assets ready for ‘Pepito’ – OCD

By Priam Nepomuceno, Philippine News Agency

In a press briefing, Nepomuceno said the “strategic deployment” of these personnel and their equipment is part of their preparations for the super typhoon. (File Photo: Civil Defense PH/Facebook)

MANILA – Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said Saturday that more than 36,000 rescue personnel and their assets have been positioned strategically to allow them to quickly respond to any adverse effects that might be caused by Super Typhoon Pepito (international name Man-yi), which is expected to batter the country this weekend.

In a press briefing, Nepomuceno said the “strategic deployment” of these personnel and their equipment is part of their preparations for the super typhoon.

The rescue troops include personnel of the OCD, the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Bureau of Fire Protection, as well as local government units, he said.

All land, sea, and air assets supporting these rescue personnel are positioned to ensure quick deployment once needed, Nepomuceno said.

“Para lang meron tayong idea, kapag pinagsama-sama natin kung ilan ang mga tauhan natin sa mga nabanggit kong ahensiya, from the uniformed services, eto updated na, ang naka-standby natin na sanay at sinanay upang tumugon sa kalamidad, meron tayong 36,694 personnel (Just to give an idea, if we combine all personnel from these agencies, from the uniformed services, we have on standby 36,694 personnel, ready and trained to respond to these types of calamities),” he said.

Meanwhile, Nepomuceno said the combined transportation assets of these services and agencies total 2,299, consisting of land vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, and Navy and Coast Guard vessels.