As the Philippines braces for the impact of Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and moving westward across the Visayas, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has shifted into heightened readiness, coordinating with Local Government Units (LGUs) and disaster management agencies to ensure timely response in vulnerable regions.
The province of Southern Leyte is no stranger to natural calamities. The memories of past typhoons remain deeply etched in the hearts of its people. The devastation brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013 and Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) in 2021, along with other strong storms that hit the province, left scars not only on the land but also in the minds of every Southern Leyteño. Those experiences taught hard lessons, particularly the importance of early evacuation, clear communication, and community cooperation during the time of crisis. Today, those lessons serve as guiding principles for both civilians and responders whenever a new storm looms on the horizon.
Before Typhoon Tino made its landfall, the Southern Leyte Provincial Police Office (SLPPO), led by Police Colonel Raymundo P. Graveles, Provincial Director, activated its disaster response teams and preparedness plan. All PNP units throughout the province, including those in Maasin City, Silago, Hinunangan, Sogod, and Saint Bernard and other municipalities, coordinated with their respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (LDRRMOs) to implement preemptive safety measures, monitor evacuations, and ensure that residents in flood and landslide-prone areas were moved to safety ahead of the storm’s impact.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Jay C. Balderian, Deputy Provincial Director for Operations, together with Police Lieutenant Colonel Allan O. Cerro, Chief of the Provincial Operations Unit, and Police Lieutenant Colonel Ricky C. Reli, Chief of the Provincial Police Community Affairs and Development Unit, under the supervision of Police Colonel Graveles, presided over a Disaster Incident Management Task Group (DIMTG) Conference on November 3, 2025 at SLLPO Conference room. They also conducted and inspection of Search and Rescue (SAR) equipment at SLPPO Covered Court, Camp Gov. Alfredo K. Bantug, Barangay Canturing, Maasin City. The activity aimed to ensure the safety and readiness of personnel and equipment for possible deployment in connection with Tropical Storm “Tino”.
Meanwhile, all police stations throughout Southern Leyte maintained close coordination with their respective LGUs. When Typhoon Tino began to batter Eastern and Western Visayas, the PNP Operations Center remained active around the clock. Radios crackled with reports of rising water levels, cleared roads, evacuees safely sheltered in various evacuation centers, and coordinated relief preparations. Each report reflected the teamwork of PNP personnel, barangay officials, and other partner agencies, ensuring that the safety of the community remained the top priority.
For the people of Southern Leyte, seeing the members of PNP on the ground, soaked in rain, boots covered in mud, yet steadfast in their duty, brought a sense of comfort and security. Amid the uncertainty, their presence served as a reminder that they were not alone in facing nature’s fury.
Typhoon Tino once again tested the country’s resilience but it also revealed the unyielding spirit of unity and preparedness of the Filipino people. For the men and women of PNP, it was another mission accomplished, not through force or arrests, but through service, compassion, and strong dedication to protect lives above all.
In times of disaster, true heroes are not always those in capes but those in uniform—standing firm in the rain, offering a helping hand to the frightened, and leading the way when everything seems uncertain.
