BONTOC, Mountain Province – Personnel from the Mountain Province Police Provincial Office (MPPPO) and different Municipal Police Stations in the province are expected to serve as tourism police as they committed to the three-day training on Tourism Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (Top-Cop) which started on November 29, 2023.
The training was organized by the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) through the Office of the Municipal Mayor-Tourism Unit in partnership with the Department of Tourism -Cordillera Administrative Region (DOT-CAR) and the MPPPO.
Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., in his message during the Opening Program, remarked that the training will not only contribute to a safer environment for tourists but will also result in significant growth of the locality’s tourism industry.
With this, he encouraged the police officers to step out of their comfort zones and acquire new knowledge and skills.
“By acquiring comprehensive training in tourism concepts and skills, we have an opportunity to enhance the overall image of our police force. When tourists see proactive and knowledgeable police officers who prioritize their safety and well-being, it creates a positive perception of our law enforcement agencies, contributing to the positive image of our beautiful and peaceful town as a tourist destination. As tourist police, you have the power to not only protect and serve but also leave a lasting positive impact on the tourism industry. Let us embrace this opportunity to become effective tourism front liners and contribute to the growth and prosperity of our town,” Mayor Tudlong emphasized.
During the duration of the training, the participants are engaged in tourism-related topics such as TopCop overview, Role and Mission of Tourism Police, Overview of the Philippine Tourism Industry, Basic Principles of Tourism Safety, Child Safe Tourism, Gender and Development, Human Rights, Philippine History, Filipino People, Culture and Tradition, Tourist Behavior Pattern and Market Profile, Local Tourist Products and Services, Police First Responder, Overview of the Incident Command System, Customized First-Aid based on Location, and Workshop on Local Tourism Security Plan.
Top-Cop program is a national program of the Philippine National Police (PNP), in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), aimed at strengthening the relationship between both agencies in providing a safe and secure environment for tourists and ensuring the availability of tourist police in tourist destinations nationwide. By Alpine L. Killa- Malwagay & Jonas May-eng
