MANGALDAN -- Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Assistant Secretary Arturo Lomibao praised all policemen particularly those assigned at the calamity-stricken areas “for their very commendable efforts during the recent typhoons, which caused so much devastation.”

“These policemen are people (in the government service) who rarely complain of their personal welfare while attending to the call of duty,” Lomibao, who is former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, remarked.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

“In fact, they have families that needed their help during those times, but they are there at the police stations answering distress calls, evacuating people, risking their own lives, etc.,” he stressed.

Lomibao commended the chiefs-of-police, and the different police unit commanders for the crisis management and leadership capability they displayed.

“At the spur of a moment while flood water was rising, they were able think of indigenous materials to evacuate people to safer places like what San Jacinto Police Chief Ryan Manongdo did,” he said.

Manongdo earned national recognition after the story of him using air mattress to evacuate people landed in a national broadsheet. Together with teenagers Rhubert and Rhuniel Venerayan, they received an award at Camp Crame.

Meanwhile, Police Provincial Director Percival Barba said he has submitted to Region 1 Police Director Ramon Gatan his report on indigenous rescue equipment/things the police can utilize before (giving warnings) and during calamities.

“There were a lot of suggestions coming from the police chiefs when we had a command conference recently. We compiled these and included it in my report. This is in compliance to the directive of President Gloria Arroyo to the PNP,” added Barba.