Aside from making steady strides in its peace and order
mission, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2015 also proved that it has
the capability to secure international events and delegates.
This was proven during the visit of Pope Francis in January
and the holding of the APEC Economic Leaders Summit last November.
Both events were concluded without any hitch, proving the
PNP capability to secure ranking and high-risk delegates in Philippine soil.
Pope Francis' visit to the country began in Jan. 15 and
ended on the 19th.
Around 28,000 police officers and enlisted personnel were
deployed to ensure the safety of the Pontiff during his visits in Manila
Despite the mammoth crowds and intermittent rains, the PNP
was able to ensure Pope Francis' arrival and departure incident-free.
The success can be attributed to good planning and
dedication of Filipino police officers, then PNP officer-in-charge Deputy
Director General Leonardo Espina said.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, meanwhile, said a
functioning and well-organized logistics system was instrumental to the
successful handling of the security operations during the APEC Economic
Leaders' Summit
“The main reason why the APEC security operations succeeded
is due to the fact that the troops involved were well-supported with their
operational and administrative needs to perform the mission,” he noted.
The APEC Economic Leaders' Summit
Mayor also explained that the temporary and improvised
billeting facilities used by augmentation troops from other regions were inside
built-up commercial areas such as in HK Sun Plaza along Macapagal Boulevard
Although these sleeping quarters lacked the luxuries of a
five-star hotel accommodation, it effectively served the purpose of a decent
shelter for the transient troops and kept them within their assigned areas of
deployment for the APEC security operations, which is among the strategic
consideration in accommodating the troops within “striking distance” of their
assigned post.
Besides, there are no billeting facilities nearby that can
accommodate such a large number of persons, Mayor said.
Nonetheless, the PNP is still eyeing further development of
the capability to provide better administrative support to large-scale troop
deployment in field operations similar to the magnitude and extent of PNP
operations during the Zamboanga City crisis, Tacloban City
Mayor said important lessons were learned in these police
operations particularly in systems and procedures on logistics management.
He said these logistics capability is envisioned to support
PNP units engaged in extended police operations that require provisions for
movement, shelter, food services, supplies, and other basic needs of troops.
This involves lift capability to transport troops, equipment
and supplies; temporary shelter and accommodations for troops with self-reliant
water and power generation; and adequate food and medical provisions.
In the APEC experience, Mayor said primordial among the
objectives of the security preparations made by the PNP during the holding of
the event was to provide PNP personnel deployed with hot meals on time.
To realize this, he said, the PNP implemented a Food
Distribution Plan wherein the following best practices of the previous
preparatory APEC Meetings were introduced: a standard menu plan to be followed
by all caterers in the preparation of the meal packs wherein in nine days, no
menu will be repeated and serving of two cups of rice and 500 ml bottled water.
The PNP also formed Food Distribution Teams detailing mess
supervisors and mess inspectors by all involved units who ensured that food are
distributed on time, meals are sufficient and sanitary standards are observed
by caterers and likewise address food provision concerns.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=842275
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.