DOT, PNP to train more tourist cops

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is set to train more tourist-friendly policemen nationwide after the agency forged a partnership with the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“To assure tourists that it’s safe and it’s more fun in the Philippines, the DOT and the PNP have agreed to train more tourist police personnel,” DOT said.

Tourism and police officials signed a memorandum of agreement for the rollout of the Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection program (TOPCOP) nationwide, which will be implemented by all DOT and PNP regional offices.

“We’re happy to strengthen our partnership with the PNP to ensure the safety and security of international and domestic visitors in the country’s tourist destinations,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

Puyat said the TOPCOP training will showcase the “Filipino brand of service” highlighting the Filipinos’ unique and genuine hospitality.

“The PNP’s commitment ‘To serve and protect’ through unequalled service to our citizens and foreign travelers alike is laudable. We look up to you, inspired to fulfil our mandate of contributing more inclusive impact in the lives of our fellow Filipinos,” Puyat said.

“With your help, we can rest assured that we are not alone in sending a strong message to our visiting tourists that our country will continue and always will be a safe destination,” she added.

PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde welcomed the DOT’s support and the vision of the program that will enhance police visibility in visitor areas, where PNP personnel will patrol as well as set up tourist assistance centers and complaints desks.

“Let me mention that your national police is now on its journey of transformation, a significant part of which is the continuing enhancement and improvement of the skills, knowledge and work, attitudes of our police personnel. Along this line, we want to ensure that our police are highly trained, well-equipped and constantly prepared in performing their duties, especially in responding to crisis situation,” Albayalde said.

Since its launch in 2011, the TOPCOP program has trained over 4,000 police officers. Albayalde, for his part, said the tourist police officers are now highly trained and well equipped in performing their duties and responsibilities. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Ghio Ong