60 Boracay cops on TOP COP training program

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Sixty policemen from Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC) will undergo the Tourism Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOP COP) program at Patio Pacific Boracay.  

Boracay tourism officer Artemio Ticar said the three-day extensive training and education from May 27 to 29 is spearheaded by the Department of Tourism and Philippine National Police (PNP) for police personnel assigned in travel destinations in the country.

“May puso, may smile dapat ang mga pulis natin sa bawat turista,” Ticar said. 

BTAC policemen spearheaded by Senior Inspector Mark Evan Salvo are being taught on issues and topics on history and culture of the country, profile of tourism industry of Aklan, tourist safety and security, crisis management and basic customer relations, among others. 

“Dapat maturuan din sila ng proper tourist handling, dapat approachable sila, tourist oriented police. Tinuturuan natin kung paano humarap sa mga bisita ang mga pulis, na marunong silang mag smile at i-trained sila na kaaya aya sa mga bisita,” Ticar added.

Ticar said the Boracay cops will have also their familiarization tour of the island as part of their tourist police training program.  

“Dahil nakikita namin na ang mga pulis ay hindi familiar sa mga lugar at mga isla na malapit sa Boracay Island, kinakailangan magkaroon tayo ng familiarization tour sa kanila,” he stressed.