DUE to the extreme heat the country is experiencing, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) allowed the police, fire and jail officers to wear light uniforms when they are on duty to ease discomfort.
In a statement, Secretary Benhur Abalos said “To ease the working conditions of uniformed personnel amid rising heat index across the country, Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos on Friday said police, fire, and jail officers can wear light uniforms in the performance of their duties.”
Abalos emphasized that “the welfare of our uniformed personnel comes first especially as they perform their sworn duty.”
The order is in relation to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) warning that the dangerous heat index in various parts of the country will persist until mid-May.
It was issued through an urgent memorandum dated April 25 and addressed to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Major General Rommel Francisco Marbil, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Director Louie Puracan, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Chief Ruel Rivera.
The three agencies were also tasked with issuing an advisory for all their personnel to wear light uniforms when carrying out their respective duties.
“The tri-bureau’s line of work already poses a lot of risks, now coupled with the hazards of extreme heat temperature, so we also need to protect our uniformed personnel from the PNP, BFP and BJMP,” Abalos said.
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