BOHOL’s Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) is set to push for more tourism safety and security measures this year to avoid petty crimes and accidents in tourist areas.
During this year’s second PPOC meeting, members approved two motions prioritizing tourism safety by adding more tourism police officers and creating a technical group that will operate the diving decompression chambers in Panglao.
Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte said that prioritizing safety measures is vital in improving the quality of Bohol’s tourism.
“We are always promoting Bohol as a prime tourist destination, but we cannot do anything if incidents occur due to the lack of safety measures for tourists to enjoy their stay here,” Caberte said.
PPOC aims to put an additional 100 tourism police officers in Panglao as a preventive measure to circumvent petty crimes from happening in tourist areas.
The council also looked into collaborating with LGU Panglao, PNP, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Provincial Health Office, and Bohol Provincial Tourism Office to operationalize the hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers in Panglao.
The diving chamber serves as a temporary dry environment that provides breathing gas for the occupants, used in emergencies such as carbon monoxide poisoning and lack of oxygen.
PA Caberte added that the PPOC has to present an operational plan by February 15.
PA Caberte explained that adding more measures can ensure the success and failure of the province’s tourism as safety problems can influence tourists’ decisions on which areas they want to visit. PPOC hopes they can provide more resolutions that will increase public safety for the province. (PiMO/ GMC)
