Creation of Bacolod 'tourist police' urged

CONSIDERING that Bacolod City is a tourism hub in the country, Councilor Caesar Distrito finds the need for the creation of a special unit as tourist police to ensure the safety tourists in the city.

Distrito proposed a resolution to the City Council urging the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), particularly BCPO Director Celestino Guara, to create tourist police.

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"Bacolod City is the host to thousands of Korean and other foreign students due to its friendly and hospitable environment," Distrito stated.

“It is incumbent upon the PNP personnel to ensure their safety,” he added.

Various tourism activities are also being held in Bacolod and one of them is the upcoming MassKara festival, which draws thousands of foreigners and balikbayans.

During these celebrations, tourists are vulnerable to criminal elements, considering their being unfamiliar to the place and its people.

The government, through the police, should always be ready to assist the tourists as the tourism industry is one of the major component and contributor to the country's economy.

The BCPO is in the best position to create this special unit that will specifically respond to the needs of the foreigners coming and staying in the city, according to Distrito.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the hostage taking incident last August 23, 2010 in Manila will not leave a negative effect on the city's staging of the 31st MassKara festival.

"I don't believe it will have a significant effect on our festival. The MassKara festival is not dependent on the Chinese tourists but on domestic tourists and balikbayans," the mayor said.