Volunteers, police officers tapped to save Boracay environs

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Volunteer environmental warriors were tapped by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to protect the environment of Boracay Island.

photo BORACAY PNP

Chief Superintendent Rhodel Sermonia, acting director of Police Community Relations Group (PCRG), said the Kaligtasan at Kalikasan (KaligKASAN) program is ongoing in the island to help save the fragile environment of the prime tourist destination all year long.  

“Ang mga KaligKasan volunteers natin mula sa mga hotels at resorts, restaurant frontliners, mga security managers at resort owners sa tatlong barangays ay na-trained on environmental protection at law enforcement,” he added.

KaligKASAN program is also a perfect opportunity for residents and the communities to spread environmental awareness and to take the sustained efforts to further protect Boracay’s environment.  

Sermonia said “aside from PNP, other government agencies and the Police Regional Office 6 were also involved in the community program.”

“Sila ang mga watchdogs natin. Naging aware na sila sa kanilang responsibilidad sa environment dahil na rin sa Boracay closure,” he added.

Boracay Island opened to foreign and local tourists on October 26 after President Rodrigo Duterte temporarily closed the island for six months  to give way to massive rehabilitation. 

KaligKASAN volunteers will also complement the police officers assigned in Boracay Island under the Tourist Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOP COP). 

“May TOP COP na naka-uniformed at trained sila ng Department of Tourism sa tourism safety and security at alam nila kung paano makisalamuha sa mga turista,” Sermonia stressed.