The Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy some 17,000 personnel in “places of convergence” nationwide to secure travelers for the Lenten season and the summer months.
PNP spokesperson, Col. Jean Fajardo, in a television interview Friday, said help desks and police assistance posts will be set up in key tourist destinations and major streets leading to it.
Of the number, some 5,000 personnel will be deployed as tourist police on foot and bike patrol in areas frequented by tourists such as Boracay Island.
“Inaatasan na rin ang mga field commanders na makipag ugnayan sa mga local chief executives po natin lalong lalo na dito sa ating mga local tourism offices para po masiguro na magiging ligtas ang ating mga turista both local and foreign, aasahan din natin ang pagdagsa ng ating mga turista lalong lalo na ngayon na halos wala nang restriction kung meron man ay very minimal na ang restriction pagdating sa travel and movement (Field commanders are also instructed to coordinate with local chief executives especially in local tourism to ensure that our tourists will be safe both local and foreign, we will also expect the influx of our tourists especially now that there are almost no restrictions. If there are any, the restrictions are very minimal when it comes to travel and movement),” she said.
Fajardo said they will be assisted by more than 42,000 force multipliers and volunteers in the preservation of peace and security.
Fajardo added that based on intelligence reports, there are no monitored threats so far as this year’s dry season officially started on Wednesday.
PNP chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlos, earlier outlined the set of operational guidelines for implementation.
Carlos said they anticipate more travelers this year due to the reopening of tourist hubs and the resumption of festivals which may attract both local and foreign tourists after a two-year hiatus.
For this initiative, the PNP has released a set of operational guidelines to better ensure that minimum public health standards and peace and order are maintained especially in tourist destinations or places of worship.
Regular inspection of tourist sites is also a must alongside the conduct of mobile patrols and conduct of maximum police visibility in places of convergence and vital installations such as passenger terminals.
Source: Philippines News Agency
