The Philippine National Police (PNP) tasked the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO 7) to activate its Disaster Incident Management Task Group.
‘[Acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.] further instructed PRO7 to provide real-time updates to the National Headquarters, particularly on the extent of damage, affected communities, and the operational response being undertaken on the ground,’ the law enforcement agency said in a statement on Wednesday morning.
‘Additional resources from the National Headquarters and nearby regions are on standby to reinforce PRO 7 in safeguarding communities and restoring normalcy at the soonest possible time,’ the PNP added.
This came after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu on Tuesday night.
At least 26 people were reported killed and 147 were reported injured as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.