PNP Chief wants police street visibility

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Allan Purisima has called on policemen in this island resort to be visible on streets especially on tourist areas.

Purisima, who was here last Friday for the inauguration of tourism police training facility, has also distributed 20 patrol bikes to policemen of the Boracay Tourism Action Center (BTAC).

"The public feel safer if they saw policemen on streets. This will increase deterrence of possible crimes in their respective areas," said Purisima.

He said the PNP is now strengthening its capability in line with their modernization program.

With police visibility, Purisima said this would attract more tourists to come not only to this resort island but also to different tourism destinations in the country.

"The Aquino administration is targeting 10 million tourists in 2016. As of this time, the government had already reached six million tourists. A study indicates that each foreign tourist that comes is equivalent to one employment for Filipinos," Purisima said.

The PNP director general also believes that maintaining peace and order is crucial in the country's tourism growth.

"Imagine if we have more tourists we could encourage Filipinos not to go abroad because of abundant and available job opportunities in the country. This way we could prevent OFWs from being abused abroad. We consider tourism as an important gem to our inclusive growth," Purisima said.

In the same inauguration, the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce donated 150 pair of shoes to Boracay PNP.