BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan urged personnel of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) to continue practicing respect to residents and tourists who are caught violating existing laws, rules and regulations or those who seek assistance from them.
The local chief executive made the appeal to the BCPO personnel during a recent gathering of the Tourist Oriented Police Community Oriented Police held at the City Hall Multipurpose hall.
He said the image projected by the police when dealing with the needs of residents and visitors alike gives a lasting impression on how respectful and polite law enforcers in Baguio are and this can boost the morale of the police in effectively and efficiently performing their assigned duties and responsibilities.
“We must continue to show respect to our residents and visitors because whatever the image we project to our people, it is what we do to them that will be the lasting impression they will carry,” Domogan stressed.
He pointed out police dealing with the concerns of residents and visitors alike should show utmost respect to the individuals they are dealing with as this builds the respect of people for the police force in general.
According to him, the mere fact that visitors will be talking about good experiences with the way they were treated by the people and the law enforcers in the city will be a big boost in the direct and indirect promotion of the city as a place to visit.
He recognizes that law enforcers are tasked with various duties and responsibilities but the most important thing they should not forget is to be respectful whenever they assist residents and visitors seeking their assistance.
The BCPO and the local government continuously provides trainings to frontliners of the city’s tourism industry as effective and efficient agents in advancing local tourism as this is the major economic driver of the sustained development in the different parts of the city.
Earlier, the BCPO established a tourist police unit purposely to serve visitors to the different tourist destinations in the city year-round by ensuring their safety and security.
The assigned officers and personnel in the BCPO’s tourist police unit are continuously provided trainings on dealing with the needs of visitors.
Domogan assured the BCPO the local government is committed in sustaining its financial and technical assistance to the local police force so that officers and personnel will continue to extend to the city their sincere and dedicated services for the maintenance of peace and order, an important aspect in improving the state of the city’s tourism industry.
By Dexter A. See
