Police forces in Region 4B were ordered to step up crime prevention measures in the region as the Marcos administrations banks on tourism as one of the ways to recover from the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Police Brig. Gen. Sidney Sultan Hernia, director of the Police Regional Office 4B, said crime prevention measures are necessary to ensure the safety of both local and foreign tourists who plan to visit famous spots in the region.
Region 4B is composed of the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, or MIMAROPA.
Among the famous tourist spots in the region are the Puerto Galera and beach resorts in Palawan aside from emerging tourist spot sites in Romblon and Marinduque.
“We assure that maximum police visibility and anti-crime strategies will be intensified to diffuse other lawless incidents,” said Hernia.
President Marcos earlier ordered the Philippine National Police to increase the deployment of policemen in tourist spots across the country. On the other hand, the Department of Tourism vowed to revitalize the country’s tourism.
In response, the PNP leadership, through PNP Director for Operations Police Maj. Gen. Valeriano De Leon, ordered all police commanders to coordinate with the local tourism offices in mapping out plans for the security of all tourist spots in their respective areas of responsibility.
"The national government needs all the help it can get to revive our tourism industry, especially with the easing of travel restrictions. On the part of the PNP, our commanders on the ground have to do our share in this effort by ensuring the safety of all local and foreign tourists in their respective areas of responsibility," said De Leon.
Local government units have already opened their borders to local and foreign tourists in a move to revive tourism, which has proven to bring more jobs and spark the local economy.
Based on data from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the Philippines has been playing a key role in reigniting travel and tourism in the Asia-Pacific region.
In 2021 alone, the WTTC reported that the Philippines earned $41 billion from travel and tourism and supported 7.8 million jobs.