Tight security for Boracay travelersBY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
BORACAY – The Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) has tightened its stringent security measures for the safety of local and foreign tourists staying in the famed island of Boracay.
Fifty additional policemen were deployed to augment the tourist-trained Boracay Special Tourist Protection Office (BSTPO) to maintain peace and order throughout the Lenten break and summer season.
APPO acting police director Senior Superintendent Cornelio Defensor, Jr. also directed police chiefs to set up assistance centers in strategic locations in their municipalities to assist motorists and travelers.
Defensor said the local police expects thousands of tourists and visitors to flock in Boracay Island in observance of the Lenten Season.
Tourist statistics showed that arrivals up by 12 percent from 21,318 visitors in 2009 to 24,009 for the duration of Holy Week alone last year.
The Coast Guard also stepped efforts to secure Caticlan and Cagban ports and on alert for passengers of roll-on roll-off vessels.
The Coast Guard also stepped efforts to secure Caticlan and Cagban ports and on alert for passengers of roll-on roll-off vessels.
As this developed, tourists and residents are encouraged to observe the implementation of anti-littering and smoking ordinances in the island.
Under Executive Order No. 031 series of 2010, Malay mayor John Yap has deputized the BSTPO personnel and other law enforcement agencies to intensify the implementation of Municipal Ordinance No. 100, series of 1996 (anti-littering ordinance) and Municipal Ordinance No. 272, series of 2009 (anti-smoking ordinance) along the beach areas of Boracay Island.
Yap said the beach areas of the island are public places and main points where tourists and guests converged and it is imperative to prohibit littering and smoking in these areas to ensure the cleanliness of the white beaches free from the ashes and butts cigarettes and other waste materials.
BSTPO chief Superintendent Manuel Villar said violators will be fined once apprehended by environmental enforcers in the local government's intensified anti-littering and smoking campaign.
Glad to know that aklan gov't officials are trying their best to keep boracay clean. I am proud of Boracay, it just makes me sad when I hear foriegn tourists complain about garbage and tell his/her friends how dirty the island is.
ReplyDeleteOf course, of course …aklan gov't officials do their best to keep Boracay clean!! The island is the goose that lays golden eggs to their PERSONAL pockets!! How about the proliferation of illegal drugs and criminality in the area?
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