MANILA, Philippines—Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim has assured the safety of both local visitors and foreign guests visiting the country’s various touristdestinations this summer.
Lim said that Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (Top Cop) personnel who have been deployed in key attractions where tourists go have been ordered to be more visible and alert as a deterrent against crimes.
Top Cop is the Philippine National Police's (PNP) main unit tasked to keep tourists safe.
With summer at its peak, police officials have mapped out ways to prevent untoward incidents that may stain the country’s reputation as a favorite tropical destination.
PNP Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo has reminded Top Cop chief Col. Anselmo Pinili of the Directorate of Operations, Public Safety Division of his “one strike” policy where one untoward incident means you’re out.
Earlier, Lim called on Bacalzo to check on the status of preparations made for the entire summer season.
Lim was assured by the PNP chief that tourist policeare already posted in all key destinations nationwide to ensure police presence at all times.
Lim thanked Bacalzo for his support and willingness to closely coordinate with the Department of Tourism(DoT) for the safety and security of the country’s tourists.
According to Lime, the national Top Cop program which was launched late last year, “aims to strengthen the relationship of the DoT with the PNP in providing a safe and secure environment for tourists, establish a 24-hour Tourist Office to be strategically-located in tourist destinations, enhance police visibility in areas with high tourist movement especially during night time, and sustain the availability of tourist police in key tourist destinations.”
To date, more than a thousand policemen have undergone training and are deployed in Metro Manila, Cebu City, Zambales, Baguio City, Davao City, Boracay Islands, Puerto Princesa City, Bohol, Ilocos Norte, Negros Oriental, Camarines Sur, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin and Cagayan Valley.
To complement the Top Cop program are the night courts in the Metropolitan Trial Courts of Pasay and Makati recently established by the Supreme Court, upon the request of the DoT. Night courts have already been set up in Quezon City and Manila.
“The night courts make possible the formal lodging and speedy hearing of complaints by short-staying tourists,” Lim said.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
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Tourists really need to be assured with their safety. As a country that has tourism as one of the prime sources of investment, DOT should assure that the tourists will have a lovely vacation here in our country by eliminating their worries about unnecessary things such as calamities and crimes.
ReplyDeleteMariel from Cagayan de Oro (http://www.cdokay.com)