The Provincial Peace and Order Council of Palawan held an assembly yesterday, May 26 which highlighted the public health crisis, COVID-19.
The meeting was presided by Atty. Teodoro Matta, Program Director of PPOC and was attended by Western Command, Provincial and City Police Office together with other officials of member agencies.
Atty. Matta said that the PPOC is currently working together and guarantees the preparedness of its member agencies against the new coronavirus disease 2019 in the province.
The group also gives priority on the plans of re-alignment of its funds to be used by the frontliners in combating COVID-19.
“A good portion of its goes to PNP, Coast Guard and AFP na main pillars ng security sector natin. Sa kanila napupunta ‘yan kasama ang ibang nasa security natin at ang gagawin lang, isasama natin ang sa COVID response ang PHO at PDRRMO. ‘Yun siguro ang malaking substancial change kasi kasama sila sa peace and order dapat dahil stakeholder din sila,” Atty. Matta told Palawan Daily.
“Malaki din siguro ang mapupunta dyan sa equipment at sa capacity ng province to cope with a possible outbreak [COVID-19] kasi wala naman tayong outbreak. We have two isolated cases pero isa pa doon ay doubtful. We are just preparing for the worst ng possible outbreak when the borders opens kaya capacity and capability building ng province ang kailangan natin i-focus,” he added.
Some topics that were also discussed are the efforts being done at the West Philippine Sea and the security of the province as a whole.