Tourist police to
help ensure safety of visitors in Bicol
by Manny P. Solis
LEGAZPI
CITY, April 12 (PIA) -- The robust tourist arrivals and numerous conventions
held here in recent years manifested the city’s reputation as one of the
favorite destinations of tourists and best venue for national gatherings,
according to Mayor Carmen Geraldine Rosal of this city.
Rosal said in an interview Wednesday that the significant development prompted the local government here to organize tourist police units, consequently, has since dispatched on April 4, this year.
“The creation of these tourist police units is a noble program for the safety of everyone, making which very timely in time for the influx of tourist during the summer season,” Rosal said.
Rosal noted that the city posted 358,617 tourists arrival in 2011, which climbed to 438,100 in 2012, or an increase of 22.16 percent.
“We expect these figures to double once the South Luzon International Airport starts its operation because when that time comes, this city will become the gateway of the region and surely, all kinds of tourist personalities will spend their time first here before they go to the other tourist destinations in Bicol,” Rosal said.
She pointed out that the holding of Ibalong Festival very August and the idyllic places inside the territorial area of this city--such as the world-famous perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano, Lignon Hill View Deck, Embarcadero de Legazpi, new investment zone--city boulevard area, four-wheel ATV riding at the foot of Mount Mayon, well-engineered sanitary landfill and the city’s eco-park--have contributed significantly to the robust tourist growth rate of the city.
Rosal pointed out that the tourism industry gives employment opportunities and is considered as one of the backbones of the local economy, which helps the business sector and contributes a lot to the coffers of this city.
Philippine National Police Bicol regional director C/Supt. Clarence V. Guinto meanwhile said that owing to the continuous increase of tourist visitors in the region, some 36 well-trained police personnel will be assigned to all the top tourist destinations in the region.
“Deployment of tourist police include the cities of Legazpi, Naga, Sorsogon and Masbate and in the provinces of Catanduanes and Camarines Norte to protect all kinds of tourist personalities who want to spend their time in Bicol as well as maintain the stable peace and order situation in the region,” he said.
Guinto said that these 36 policemen will work 24 hours a day “for the protection of our visitors from any dangerous incident and to make sure their visit will become fruitful and comfortable.”
He furthered that he will encourage all the provincial police directors to also launch police tourist units at their respective areas for the safety of tourists and visitors.
Department of Tourism Bicol regional director Maria Ravanilla said the creation of this community-oriented tourist police unit is “very important for us to strengthen the capacity of the police personnel to protect tourists and visitors in the region and to make our place a zero crime area for tourists.”
Ravanilla promised to provide uniforms to all the members of tourist police units.
She said the Province of Albay is still the premiere tourist drawer, eclipsing other provinces in Bicol, by posting the highest tourist arrival growth rate from a total of 350,629 tourists in 2011 to 523,832 in 2012 - with a total increase of 49 percent. (MAL/MPSolis-LGU Legazpi City/PIA5)
Rosal said in an interview Wednesday that the significant development prompted the local government here to organize tourist police units, consequently, has since dispatched on April 4, this year.
“The creation of these tourist police units is a noble program for the safety of everyone, making which very timely in time for the influx of tourist during the summer season,” Rosal said.
Rosal noted that the city posted 358,617 tourists arrival in 2011, which climbed to 438,100 in 2012, or an increase of 22.16 percent.
“We expect these figures to double once the South Luzon International Airport starts its operation because when that time comes, this city will become the gateway of the region and surely, all kinds of tourist personalities will spend their time first here before they go to the other tourist destinations in Bicol,” Rosal said.
She pointed out that the holding of Ibalong Festival very August and the idyllic places inside the territorial area of this city--such as the world-famous perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano, Lignon Hill View Deck, Embarcadero de Legazpi, new investment zone--city boulevard area, four-wheel ATV riding at the foot of Mount Mayon, well-engineered sanitary landfill and the city’s eco-park--have contributed significantly to the robust tourist growth rate of the city.
Rosal pointed out that the tourism industry gives employment opportunities and is considered as one of the backbones of the local economy, which helps the business sector and contributes a lot to the coffers of this city.
Philippine National Police Bicol regional director C/Supt. Clarence V. Guinto meanwhile said that owing to the continuous increase of tourist visitors in the region, some 36 well-trained police personnel will be assigned to all the top tourist destinations in the region.
“Deployment of tourist police include the cities of Legazpi, Naga, Sorsogon and Masbate and in the provinces of Catanduanes and Camarines Norte to protect all kinds of tourist personalities who want to spend their time in Bicol as well as maintain the stable peace and order situation in the region,” he said.
Guinto said that these 36 policemen will work 24 hours a day “for the protection of our visitors from any dangerous incident and to make sure their visit will become fruitful and comfortable.”
He furthered that he will encourage all the provincial police directors to also launch police tourist units at their respective areas for the safety of tourists and visitors.
Department of Tourism Bicol regional director Maria Ravanilla said the creation of this community-oriented tourist police unit is “very important for us to strengthen the capacity of the police personnel to protect tourists and visitors in the region and to make our place a zero crime area for tourists.”
Ravanilla promised to provide uniforms to all the members of tourist police units.
She said the Province of Albay is still the premiere tourist drawer, eclipsing other provinces in Bicol, by posting the highest tourist arrival growth rate from a total of 350,629 tourists in 2011 to 523,832 in 2012 - with a total increase of 49 percent. (MAL/MPSolis-LGU Legazpi City/PIA5)
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