BORACAY ISLAND – Environmental volunteers have been tapped by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to protect the welfare of this popular tourist island.
Chief Superintendent Rhodel Sermonia, Acting director of Police Community Relations Group (PCRG), said the Kaligtasan at Kalikasan (KaligKasan) program is ongoing on the island to help save the fragile environment of the prime tourist destination all year round.
“Ang mga KaligKasan volunteers natin mula sa mga hotels at resorts, restaurant frontliners, mga security managers at resort owners sa tatlong barangays ay na-train on environmental protection at law enforcement,” he added.
The KaligKasan program is also a perfect opportunity for residents and the communities to spread environmental awareness and to have a hand in the sustained efforts to further protect Boracay’s environment.
Sermonia said “aside from PNP, other government agencies and the Police Regional Office 6 were also involved in the community program.”
“Sila ang mga watchdogs natin. Naging aware na sila sa kanilang responsibilidad sa environment dahil na rin sa Boracay closure,” he added.
Boracay Island reopened to both foreign and local tourists on Oct. 26 after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered it temporarily closed for six months to give way to a massive rehabilitation.
KaligKASAN volunteers are set to complement the police officers assigned to Boracay Island under the Tourist Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOP COP) program.
“May TOP COP na naka-uniform at trained sila ng Department of Tourism sa tourism safety and security at alam nila kung paano makisalamuha sa mga turista,” Sermonia stressed. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)