PHL tourism department: Tourist cops ready

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has declared its relaunched Tourism Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOP COP) program in full swing. According to the DOT, it has completed the first phase of the TOP COP training courses, benefiting 1,226 police officers nationwide. “We hope to encourage more tourists to visit the country with this added commitment to their safety and security," Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said in a news release on the government portal. The first phase of the training program covered topics on tourism orientation and basic customer relations, and was conducted from November 2010 to May 2011. It focused on police assigned in top tourist destinations, including:

• Metro Manila
• Cebu
• Albay
• Baguio City
• Bohol
• Boracay Island
• Cagayan Valley
• Davao City
• Ilocos Norte
• Negros Oriental
• Northern Mindanao (Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin)
• Puerto Galera
• Puerto Princesa City
• Zambales

Additional trainings were also be held in Caraga Region and General Santos City in Mindanao, and in Eastern Visayas. The trainings will be conducted with the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Aviation Security Group. Tourist police have been deployed in Metro Manila, Baguio City, Boracay Island, Bohol, Donsol in Sorsogon, Dumaguete, and Embarcadero in Legaspi. Phase II trainings – from July until November 2011 in the same top tourist destinations – will cover topics on police matters, crisis management, and first aid. Last month, 50 officers based in Metro Manila finished the second phase while some 50 more will be trained in Region III at Camp Conrado Yap in Iba, Zambales this week. Also last week, 20 new bicycles were turned over by Lim to the Manila Police District (MPD) Tourist Police led by Captain Jovan Sicat to be used in securing Manila’s tourist spots. “We hope that this civic-oriented attitude continues as we heighten awareness and vigilance towards tourist safety and security," Lim said. Meanwhile, the DOT foresees wider implementation of Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 19-2011, which provides for the establishment of night courts dedicated to resolving criminal cases involving tourists. The Metropolitan Trial Courts of Pasay and Makati are the first to comply with the Order. — LBG, GMA News