THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) has reactivated the Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP) in the areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) to ensure that tourists comply with health protocols.
PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa on Wednesday ordered local police units through Directorate for Operations director Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Licup to reactivate the TOPCOP and to strengthen the tourist police assistance desks.
“The PNP’s tourist police units must be present at all times to implement health protocols in tourist destinations that are now under Modified General Community Quarantine. I ordered the PNP Regional Directors to activate their tourist police and assistance desks to ensure that local tourists will strictly follow health protocols based on the existing guidelines by the Inter-Agency Task-Force (IATF),” Gamboa said in a statement.
Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has allowed domestic tourism in areas under MGCQ provided that strict health protocols are followed to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Gamboa said local police will establish Tourist Police Assistance Desks and Tourist Police Outpost in coordination with DOT Regional Offices and Local Tourism Councils.
“We all know that many areas have eased into MGCQ and may now resume domestic tourism operations. The PNP is prepared to provide support to LGU’s who may have difficulty monitoring and ensuring the strict compliance of tourists,” said Gamboa.
Aside from proper observance of health protocols, Gamboa said the tourist police will also provide added security operations for local tourists and establishments and to respond to tourist-related security and safety issues. (
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