POLICE in Samar province have launched the Bantay-tourist bike patrol in support of the eco-tourism programs of the provincial government.

“The Samar Provincial Police Office Bantay-tourist bike patrollers will focus their activities to safeguard lives and properties primarily in the tourist destinations of the province,” said Colonel Peter Limbauan, police provincial director, on Tuesday, November 15, 2022.

“This project will also be replicated and strengthened in all local police stations with identified tourist destinations,” he added.

Samar provincial tourism officer Marvin Piczon also lauded the initiative and vowed to support it “to further the capabilities of the bike patrollers in the delivery of an effective and efficient police service.”

Meanwhile, Limbauan maintained that “having safe and crime-free tourist destinations will encourage more tourists to visit in Samar which will in turn provide economic advantage to the locales or village folks since the Province promotes a community-based ecotourism industry.”

Samar, one of the poorest provinces in the county, earlier launched the Spark Samar Development Agenda to highlight its tourism and agriculture potentials.

On October 19, 2022, the Samar provincial government formally unveiled its P80-million San Juanico Bridge Aesthetic Light and Sound Show Project to invite more tourists to the province.

In July 2022, it also announced the proposed P1.2 billion Spark Samar Sports City complex to transform the Samar province into a world-class sports destination. (SunStar Philippines)