Boracay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
After the so-called “LaBoracay,” or the Labor Day weekend event, drew large number of tourists in Boracay island, the Philippine National Police said the top beach destination experienced fewer crime incidents this summer season.
Chief Superintendent Josephus Angan, Western Visayas regional director, said the number of crimes recorded this summer season has decreased by 10 percent compared with the same period last year.
In his report to PNP officer in charge Deputy Director Leonardo Espina, Angan said crime incidents recorded in Boracay have decreased from 1, 086 incidents to 982 cases.
“Similar to other prime tourist destinations in the country, theft incidents victimizing foreign nationals in Boracay island are isolated and not alarming,” said the police official.
The recent development was also timely as Boracay hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Coordination meeting from May 10 to May 24. Around 1,500 delegates from 21 countries have gathered in the island for the second round of the Apec Senior Officials’ Meeting.
READ: Apec in Boracay a boost, not deterrent, to PH tourism – spokesman
“These operational and administrative interventions include detail of additional personnel to Boracay Tourist Assistance Center; adoption of investigative e-projects to enhance the capability of BTAC investigators; implementation of Geographical Information System-Based Crime Analysis and Comparative Statistics as a tool in the over-all crime prevention and suppression; enhancement of BTAC personnel through various tourist and community related trainings or seminars; mobilization of Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team and Boracay Action Group; and procurement of handheld radios, batons and others equipments that will help boost the communication capability in crime prevention and anticrime response of the center,” said Angan.
He said efforts of the Western Visayas police and the local government of Malay, Aklan have contributed to the reduction of crime incidents there. IDL