LUNA, Apayao – Fifty police officers in Apayao are currently undergoing a specialized training to strengthen their capacity as frontline responders in tourism-related concerns.
Conducted from June 3 to 6, the training is part of the Department of Tourism–Cordillera’s Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP) program, in partnership with the Provincial Tourism Services Office (PTSO) and the Apayao Police Provincial Office (APPO).
The four-day course focuses on equipping the province’s police force with the skills necessary for the safety of visitors and the promotion of service excellence. In addition to the main training in Luna, complementary Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) sessions are being held in Conner, Flora, and Luna from June 4 to 6.
Dr. Grace C. Canave of DOT-CAR facilitated interactive discussions on guest engagement, service excellence in face-to-face and online settings, and the importance of first impressions. Schools Division Superintendent Irene S. Angway tackled basic tourism safety concepts and general subject knowledge useful to police officers serving in tourist-facing roles.
Upcoming lectures will introduce participants to the structure of the country’s tourism framework and how police work fits into it. Protocols for responding to incidents involving tourists, along with strategies for applying the Filipino Brand of Service in real-world interactions, will also be discussed.
The PTSO is set to deliver a briefing on the Apayao Tourism Situationer, which includes an overview of local attractions and services. Human rights and anti-human trafficking topics are likewise part of the training, along with a session on the Incident Command System.
The training will culminate with a workshop focused on drafting each municipality’s Local Tourism Security Action Plan, to be presented in the final program. By Loremia Pareja
