Aklan vice guv: Let's bring back the confidence of tourists BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – To bring back the confidence of tourists in the aftermath of hostage crisis, Aklan Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo is urging the Philippine National Police (PNP), national agencies, the provincial government and tourism stakeholders to develop a security crisis management plan here.
“Aklan is a primary tourist destination, it has two major airports and it is becoming a hub of several airlines for international flights. We have been pushing for sophisticated trainings and equipments for our police force in Boracay Island to ensure safety of tourists,” she said.

Calizo-Quimpo said the PNP should assess the capabilities of the local police and to train them to handle situations such as the tragic hostage taking in Manila last Monday that left eight Chinese tourists from Hong Kong dead.
Three years ago, a coordination meeting was called with consultants from foreign consultants conducting trainings for the police assigned in the island of Boracay.
“At that time, local officials are hoping to establish specially-trained police force in the island. Can you imagine if something happens like the Manila hostage taking in our province? I think we have to do our trainings in the local level in coordination with the Philippine National Police for Boracay, Malay and Kalibo police,” Calizo-Quimpo said in the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The trainings could extend in all other municipal police stations in Aklan and a special force should be establish to handle events such as terrorist attack and hostage taking.
SP member Nemesio Neron said the incident is highly regrettable for the government forces and condemnable for the hostage taker.
“The police had security plans for this situation, but, there are many lapses in the police operations during the hostage taking.”
The vice governor said the hostage drama has an impact in the tourism industry of Aklan following the issuance of black level travel alert by the Hong Kong government to all its residents to avoid travel to the Philippines.
“I hope our tourism officials will visit Hong Kong to apologize and to bring back the confidence of the Chinese nationals. We cannot wait whatever they will do in the national government, at least, here in Aklan, the tourists are confident that they are safe and the provincial government agencies are in place to handle similar dire situations,” Calizo-Quimpo said.
She also mentioned the Kalibo International Airport, which is vulnerable to attacks, and the island of Boracay, that the composite team of AFP, Philippine Coast Guard and PNP should be involved for the security and safety.

SP member Raymar Rebaldo, for his part, supported the proposal of the vice governor to equip the local police with special trainings but also provide more personnel to augment the Boracay and Kalibo police stations.