The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Monday, March 14, that will pave the way for securing tourist spots from the influence of illegal drugs.
In the MOA signing, PDEA Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva, PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos and DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat vowed to join hands in preventing the proliferation of illegal drugs in areas frequented by local and foreign tourists.
“The MOA will establish the PDEA Tourism Operation Protection Against Illegal Drugs (PDEA TOP AID), which is a program intended to intensify anti-drug efforts in areas with high influx of tourists and travelers,’’ Villanueva said during the signing at the PDEA Headquarters.
Villanueva noted that tourist destinations have traditionally been targeted by drug trafficking groups as they take advantage of a ready market, “particularly foreign travelers with expendable funds for leisure.’’
Among the key aims of PDEA TOP-AID is setting up of assistance and complaint desks geared toward drug trafficking concerns, increasing law enforcement visibility to deter potential violators, encouraging support from stakeholders in the tourism sector, and improving coordination between DOT and law enforcement personnel.
“We want to promote the Philippines as a tourism destination, hand in hand with the DOT, as this is good for bringing in much needed revenue and to create livelihood opportunities for our local communities, but we want to make it clear that recreational drug-tourism has no place in the Philippines”, Villanueva said.
The PDEA chief stressed that the safety of inbound tourists “should come first’’ while they enjoy their travel and “our world-renowned hospitality.’’ (Chito A. Chavez)