Boracay re-opening? We’re ready, PNP says

POLICE in Region 6 said they are ready to secure Boracay Island once it reopens on Oct. 26, 2018.

Supt. John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police director, assured stakeholders that more than 600 police personnel were trained to attend to the island’s needs and challenges.

These personnel are composed of local police, support units, and other detailed personnel from other government agencies.

The Metro Boracay Police Task Force (MBPTF) under Sr. Supt. Cambay Jr has already mapped out security preparations.

To ensure personnel readiness, PNP personnel assigned to MBPTF underwent various trainings such as First Responders Course, Tourist Oriented Policing for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP), Explosives   Ordnance Reconnaissance Agent, and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Proficiency Training.

They also underwent Personnel/Leadership   Development Course, Digital Literacy, Driving   Course, Lifeguard Training, and Communications Skills Enhancement Workshop, among others.

Various simulation exercises were conducted in anticipation of various possible emergency scenarios, both human and nature induced.

Three patrol boats were also assigned to the Regional Maritime Unit to beef up its equipment.

The Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) and K9 team were also upgraded aside from additional patrol vehicles and enhancement of communications system.

As the center of Western Visayas and Philippine tourism in general, Boracay Island had been hosting an average of 30,000 tourist arrivals daily and has recently earned P56 billion in tourism revenues.

Of the 112,500 total residents of Malay town, 90,000 are in Boracay. The number is much bigger than the 29,500 population of mainland Malay.

RESTRUCTURING

The population swell has led to the restructuring the Malay Police Station.

Pushed under the leadership of then PRO-6 director, Chief Supt. Cesar Hawthorne Binag, and implemented by his successor, Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, the restructuring called for the transfer of Malay Police Station from the Malay town proper to Boracay Island.

From the initial of 147 personnel, the station got 389 additional officers.

The Malay Police Station reorganization was deemed as vital preventive measures in the law enforcement and security operations in Boracay’s surrounding environ.

The restructuring will also cause the downgrading of the Malay Municipal Police Station as a COMPAC or Community Police Action Center.

These plans were visualized to bring about a more responsive police organization structure that will cater to the security needs of the island with all resources poured in.

Additional COMPACs will also be opened in strategic locations within the island.

DIALOGUE 

In collaboration with other government agencies, the PNP conducted dialogues with business owners and security providers to ensure that the security needs of the various business establishments are adequately provided and to thresh out possible glitches due to the influx of tourists.

Bulalacao emphasized that border control shall remain in place to dispel possible intrusion of threat groups and criminal elements.

“As the PRO-6 regional director, I assure everyone that we remain on top of the situation and that all efforts are being systematically laid out for a much improved, environmentally-compliant and secure paradise island of Boracay,” Bulalacao added.

In waiting are the approval of Special Land Use for the establishment of sub-stations within the island, approval of Capability Enhancement Budget for the procurement of additional equipage, and the construction of additional billeting facilities for police personnel.

With   the   cooperation   of all stakeholders, MBPTF aims to become a highly capable and world-class tourist and environment oriented police force responsive to current and emerging security challenges of Boracay Island.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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