National Police chief General Guillermo Eleazar assured on Thursday that all mechanisms are in place for the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the speedy transport of Covid-19 vaccines to provinces around the country.
“We are ready to provide assistance so that Covid-19 vaccines will be delivered immediately to provinces and municipalities outside Metro Manila,” he said.
The PNP chief said that part of the PNP preparation was to place the floating assets of the PNP Maritime Group (MG) and helicopters of the PNP Special Action Force on standby for possible use in the transportation of the vaccines.
“In line with [Interior and Local Government] Secretary Eduardo Año’s directive, I have directed SAF and MG to prepare the speedboats and helicopters that may be used to transport the vaccines to far-flung areas for our countrymen,” Eleazar said in Filipino.
“I have also directed all commanders to prepare all the vehicles that could be used and to prepare deployment and security plan for our personnel who would assist in the transportation of vaccines and in securing vaccination sites,” he added.
The PNP MG has almost 200 floating assets under its disposal that could be readily deployed to transport the vaccines.
The SAF, on the other hand, said that it is ready to use four of the seven helicopters for the delivery of vaccines. The three other PNP helicopters are currently under three-week preventive maintenance.
The PNP is among the agencies tasked by Año to ensure the speedy delivery of the vaccines after President Duterte directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government to supervise their safe transport and proper handling in view of reports of wastage.
“Ang inyong [Your] PNP ay patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan [is coordinating with the] Department of Health and Armed Forces of the Philippines at lahat ng [and all] concerned agencies for a well-coordinated and quick delivery of vaccines across the country. Makakaasa po kayo ng bente-kuwatro oras na serbisyo ng inyong PNP para mapabilis ang minimithing herd immunity [We assure 24/7 service so could attain herd immunity],” said Eleazar.
He also assured that the PNP would be up to the task of safely transporting and distributing the Covid-19 jabs.