Holy Week security up in Boracay
BORACAY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is ready to secure the island of Boracay in anticipation of the exodus of tourists for the Holy Week celebration.
Aklan police provincial director Senior Supt. Epifanio Bragais, Jr. said Boracay Special Tourist Protection Office (BSTPO) will be deploying more policemen to guarantee the safety of thousands of tourists for the traditional Lenten break in the island.
‘We dedicate more police visibility patrols in Caticlan in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard together with the Maritime Group for seaborne and shorelines patrols,” he stressed.
To beef up the security, the PNP also deployed 29 field training policemen and 19 personnel from the 6th Provincial Public Safety Management Company as force complement of the existing BSTPO.
“So far in our assessment, we could manage the bulk of tourists by the existing BSTPO personnel. If the need arises, augmentation from different municipal police stations and the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) will be deployed in the island,” he added.
BSTPO also stepped up security around the island by putting up assistance centers in strategic areas for Semana Santa tourists expected to spend their holiday vacation.
Boracay is still the top beach destination in the country with over 600,000 tourists visiting this island resort, data from the Department of Tourism showed. Every year, more than 40,000 visitors, especially local tourists flew to Boracay Island to spend their long Holy Week holiday.
According to the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, all policemen in Western Visayas are in full alert for the security of motorists, tourists and devotees during the Holy Week in the provinces and tourist destinations. (Boy Ryan Zabal)
