PNP, DOT to deploy tourist police
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) have joined hands to ensure the safety and security of local and foreign tourists by launching TOPCOP or the Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection.
The establishment of TOPCOP program was formalized during the signing of a memorandum of agreement by Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo yesterday in Camp Crame.
The MOA provides the creation of special units within the PNP that shall ensure the safety and security of tourists in various travel destinations in the country.
The PNP high command recently circulated a directive to field units ordering intensified security operations in major tourist destinations in the country to provide protection and police assistance to tourists and foreign guests.
Bacalzo has specifically instructed the Directorate for Operations to beef-up the operational capability of Special Tourist Protection Units deployed in major tourist destinations such as Baguio City, Boracay Island, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Tagaytay City and Davao.
“In coordination with Tourism authorities, the PNP is fielding more police personnel to man these Special Tourist Protection Units as preemptive measure against crime syndicates that prey on foreign and local tourists,” Bacalzo said.
The DOT has initially identified 14 travel destinations as pilot project areas for the TOPCOP program. These are: Cebu, Camarines Sur, Metro Manila, Baguio City, Davao City, Boracay, Cagayan de Oro, Zambales, Bohol, Puerto Princesa City, Camiguin, Cagayan Valley, Negros Oriental and Ilocos Norte.
PNP personnel to be detailed in the TOPCOP program must be between 25-45 years old, at least 5’8” in height, with lean and athletic physique and with good command of English and other foreign languages.
The TOPCOP program provides continuing training and education for PNP personnel such as Tourism Awareness Seminar, Mabuhay Host Seminar, Cultural Sensitivity Seminar, Emergency Response & Life Saving, Crisis Management, Community-based Guiding, Foreign Language and Familiarization Tours.
Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009 provides the establishment of a Tourism Security Force within the PNP to assist in maintaining peace and order in areas with high tourism traffic.
The same law abolished the Tourist Security Unit of the Department of Tourism and in its place established the Tourism Security Force within the PNP.*PNA
