MORE than 4,000 police personnel have been deployed in Eastern Visayas to ensure public safety during the Lenten season and summer vacation from April 1 to May 31, 2023.

“We assure you that we are doing our best efforts to ensure the safety and security of the public, of course, with your sound cooperation," said police regional director Brigadier General Rommel Francisco Marbil.

The police officers were joined by 1,674 force multipliers from other units, such as the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Army, the Philippine Coastguard, and civilian volunteers from various advocacy groups.

Other police forces have been assigned to secure the Maharlika Highway from Allen, Northern Samar to San Ricardo, Southern Leyte.

“All police units and stations are alerted and directed to coordinate hand-in-hand with concerned agencies in the localities to help disseminate safety tips as guide to all arriving tourists,” the police regional command said.

Meanwhile, Marbil assured police visibility and the setting up of police assistance desks or hubs for motorists and tourists, together with personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Tourism, Land Transportation Office, and local government units.

“Mobile patrolling and regular inspection of tourist sites will be conducted apart from activating the tourist police at every police station,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)