MEDIA RELEASE

December 2010

Contact: Evelyn Alcaraz-Macayayong

Office of Marketing Communications
TN: 525-18-05

DOT and PNP outfit the National TOP COP

Safety and security are key ingredients to a successful tourism industry.

These are primary factors that influence potential visitors in choosing a
destination. Hence, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has stepped up efforts
to strengthen its National Tourist Oriented Police for Community Order and
Protection (TOP COP) Programme in collaboration with the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police
(PNP).

The TOP COP Programme entails training of tourist police and deployment to
main tourist destinations in the country to enhance visibility in these areas
and to effectively address safety and security concerns of local and foreign
tourists.

Together with partners in the tourism industry and local government units
concerned, training programs such as Tourism Awareness Seminar,
Emergency Response, Language Courses and Life Saving Skills have started
to be undertaken. Appropriate uniforms will also be given to members of
the TOP COP for easy distinction.

So far, a total of 85 police personnel from the different cities of Metro Manila
graduated from the two batches of training held in November 2010. The
Cebu run is scheduled on 13-15 December 2010. Similar training
opportunities will be rolled out in the rest of the top destinations.

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Photo: DOT Director Ma. Rica Bueno (2nd from right) poses with some of the
graduates during the recently concluded TOP COP seminar at the DOT. Also
in the picture is DOT project officer, Joey Tolentino (leftmost).