PNP to use own thermal scanners but says they need more

March 16, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police ( PNP) on Monday said they will provide their own thermal scanner while waiting for their request from the Department of Health (DOH).

In a radio interview, Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa admitted that the PNP lacks thermal scanners to be used by police officers manning the control points in the boundaries of Metro Manila.

“On the part of the Interagency Task Force, we will produce our own equipment for now but we have pending request with the DOH… we are not requesting for a budget but we request for equipment,” he said.

Gamboa also said he is appealing for more protective gears from the IATF for those who are assigned on control points.

“Actually we are asking for (the) basic (protective equipments). We just need face mask and gloves. As a matter of fact, the uniform being used is the long sleeve one (when) actually it should be goggles, raincoat but we have to immediately implement (the community quarantine),” he said.

He said they cannot wait for all the needed personnel protective equipment (PPE).

“We are mandated to do something so we know the risk we are going into but nevertheless we have to do it,” he said.

Gamboa said an IATF meeting followed by another conference with President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled Monday afternoon.

Last Sunday, Police Major General Debold Sinas, chief of National Capital Region Police Office said they only have around 35 thermal scanners being used in control points. 

He said if need arises, they will just borrow the thermal scanners in their local police stations.

Thermal scanners are one of equipments used in control points to check the temperature of persons allowed to enter and go outside of Metro Manila. Those who will have temperature of 38 degrees Celsius and above will not be allowed to enter or leave.

Appropriate documents must also be presented to the authorities because of this requirement, Gamboa appealed for public cooperation, especially to companies.

“We need the effort of everybody most importantly the community and the company owners… they can always issue a certificate of employment probably with a cellphone number so that if we need to call them to find out then those assigned in the checkpoints can do something. What we want is to make it easier for the PNP because if we will not work together, it might cause traffic. Then there will be chaos just because of the questioning that’s why we are asking the cooperation of the community,” he said.

“We want to understand the public because the PNP would try to do its best let’s help each other… We would like to encourage everybody to help the government as a whole,” he added.

According to acting PNP spokesperson, Police Major General Benigno Durana Jr, they established around 200 checkpoints in Metro Manila and neighboring regions to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Durana said other regions also implemented checkpoints like in Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon), 4A (Calabarzon), PRO 4B (Mimaropa) and PRO 5 (Bicol Region).

President Rodrigo Duterte last Thursday imposed community quarantine in the entire National Capital Region to counter the spread of COVID-19 inside and outside Metro Manila. Ella Dionisio/DMS