SECURITY AND SAFETY IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY

1. Airport Security Screening (Bernal and Banog)

 Carry on Baggage Screening in Standard Lanes (Bernal)
 Check Baggage Screening (Banog)
 Pat Down Screening (Bernal)
 Secure Flight (Banog)
2. Airport Safety (Calderero)
 1-10
3. Food Safety for Tourism (Estrellana)
 1-7
4. National Tourism Safety and Security Plan (Malabanan & Malaluan)
 16 Personal Safety Tips ( tig walo kayo ang kyut niyo)
5. What To Do When You Are Attacked/Hijacked (Gualberto)
 1-9
6. Safety on the Beach (Obsemia)
 1-6
7. Safety at the Hotel (Villaluz)
 1-7
8. Safety in the Car (Bernal)
 1-9
9. The Department of National Defense (Banog)
10. The Arm Forces of the Philippines (AFP) (Calderero)
11. The Office of Civil Defense (Estrellana)
12. Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) (Gualberto)
13. National Defense College of the Philippines (NDSP) (Malabanan)
14. Government Arsenal (GA) (Malaluan)
15. Human Security Act of 2007 (RA 9372) (Obsemia)
16. National Security Strategy 2018 (Villaluz)
17. Safety and Security (Bernal, Banog, Calderero)
 Crime (Bernal)
 Local Travel (Banog)
 Air Travel (Calderero)
 Sea Travel (Calderero)
18. Political Situation (Estrellana)
19. Types of Tourism Related Incidents (Gualberto & Villaluz maghati kayo dito)
20. The Journey is End to End (Malabanan)
21. Arrival (Malaluan)
22. Access (Obsemia)
23. Accommodation (Bernal)
24. Attractions and Activities (Banog)
25. Current Initiatives (Calderero)
26. What is End to End Holistic Approach (Estrellana)
27. Assessments of Risks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities of All five A’s (Gualbeto)
28. Application of Remedial Measures (Malabanan)
29. Accreditation System for all Stakeholders of the 5 A’s (Malaluan)
30. Assimilation of Security, Safety and Emergency Response Program (Obsemia &
Villaluz) medyo mahaba to kayo na bahala dalwa kung pano paiikliin basta kunin
niyo lang yung important details tenkyuu senyo lahat
Airport Security Screening

Security measures begin long before you arrive at the airport. TSA works closely with the
intelligence and law enforcement communities to share information. Additional security
measures are in place from the time you get to the airport until you get to your destination.

Carry-on Baggage Screening in Standard Lanes

TSA screens approximately 4.9 million carry-on bags for explosives and other dangerous
items daily. Here's what to expect when taking your carry-on bag through security
screening next time you fly.

Checked Baggage Screening

TSA screens approximately 1.3 million checked bags for explosives and other dangerous
items daily. Upon check-in, your checked baggage will be provided to TSA for security
screening. Once the screening process has been completed, the airline will transport your
checked baggage on your respective flight as well as deliver it to the baggage claim area.
The majority of checked baggage is screened without the need for a physical bag search.

Pat-Down Screening

Pat-down procedures are used to determine whether prohibited items or other threats to
transportation security are concealed on the person. You may be required to undergo a pat-
down procedure if the screening technology alarms, as part of unpredictable security
measures, for enhanced screening, or as an alternative to other types of screening, such as
advanced imaging technology screening. Even passengers who normally receive expedited
screening, such as TSA Pre passengers, may at times receive a pat-down

Secure Flight

Secure Flight is a risk-based passenger prescreening program that enhances security by

identifying low and high-risk passengers before they arrive at the airport by matching their
names against trusted traveler lists and watch lists. To protect privacy, the Secure Flight
program collects the minimum amount of personal information, such as full name, date of
birth, and gender, necessary to conduct effective matching. Read the Privacy Impact
Assessment and the System of Records Notice for information about the program's rigorous
privacy protections Personal data are collected, used, distributed, stored, and disposed of
according to stringent guidelines.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening

Airport Safety

1. When going through airport security, place your bags on the belt only as you are ready to
walk through the magnetometer, not while you are still in a line. Immediately recover your
items from another side of the machine.

2. Thieves are known to work in pairs. One thief stalls in front of you in line while the
other removes your items from another side of the machine

3. Keep your luggage in sight and close by at any public, especially at airports.

4. Thieves commonly switch bags at transportation and hotel counters. To help prevent
this, mark your bag with a ribbon or tape.

5. Unattended luggage may be removed and/or destroyed by security staff. If this happens,
you will not be compensated.
6. Do not approach or remain near someone else's unattended baggage.

7. Do not agree to guard a stranger's

luggage.

8. Upon arrival be present when your luggage is delivered to the baggage area;
verify your baggage claim checks and quickly inspect your luggage to ensure that it was
not tampered with:

9. If you must set down your suitcases or bags, place them against a wall or counter and
maintain contact with them.

10. Watch your luggage being stowed aboard your taxi or van at the airport and hotel if
possible, take your carry-on inside the vehicle

Food Safety for Tourism

FOOD SAFETY

1. Make sure you have an idea as to which food will produce which illness.

2. Take the time to know what are the major food problems and potential crises for your
area.

3. Make sure that you know who is working in your kitchen what is their
state of health.

4. The safety of your food is directly dependent on the health (both mental and
physical) of those preparing the food that is served.

5. Sensitize staff to food allergies. Not only can food be contaminated either through
illnesses or via a malevolent act, but there is a growing number of people who suffer from
food allergies or have special dietary needs.

6. Make sure that trash is deposited in a way that does not harm the environment. Food
safety is not only about the quality of what is served and how it is served, but also about
disposal methods for non-used foods.

7. Caterers should come under the same scrutiny as hotels and restaurants.

National Tourism Safety and Security Plan

NATIONAL TOURISM SAFETY AND

A National Tourism Safety and Security plan is a logical consequence of the development
of a national policy on this subject. Such a plan should address tourism following main
areas:

1. Identification of potential tourist risks according to types of travel, affected tourism

sectors, and locations
2. Detection and prevention of offenses against tourists.
3. Protection of tourists and residents from illicit drug trafficking.
4. Protection of tourist sites and facilities against unlawful interference.
5. Establishment of guidelines for operators of tourist facilities in the event of unlawful
interference

6. Responsibilities for dealing with the press and other media, at home and
abroad.

16 Personal Safety Tips

1. Pickpockets prefer to choose easy victims.

 If you look like you're paying attention and don't have any valuables on show,
it's less likely that you will be pickpocketed.

2. Pickpockets and scam merchants often work in groups.

 This confuses people - one person (or a group of people) would cause a
distraction while another takes your valuables. If you are confronted with a
group of people attempting to gain your attention, promptly turn your back and
walk away
3. Only carry around as much money as you need for that day.
 Leave valuables that you aren't going to use on the day in the hotel safe.
4. Do not carry around haversack on your back.
 Be especially aware of this on the metro. Pickpockets have been known to steal
from haversacks on people's backs when on the metro. If you have a haversack,
wear it the other way around with the bag in front of you.

5. Do not have a camera slung around your neck.

 Or any other expensive items like video cams. Keep any valuables out of sight.
If you have a camera put it in your inside jacket pocket. If it's too big for this
then put it in a small bag and have the bag strap diagonally over your neck and
shoulder so that it goes other under your arm- this makes it much more difficult
for someone to snatch your bag.
6. If you need to look up anything on a map, go into a café and sit down rather
than look up your destination in the streets.
 This is like advertising that you are new to the area and a tourist and that is
exactly what pickpockets are looking for.
7. In cafes and restaurants pay attention to your bags/purses and wallets.
 This may seem obvious but when you're on holiday it's easy to "switch off" and
not pay attention to where your belongings are. Typical places where bags are
stolen are in cafes. When you put your bag down, keep it in sight.

8. Watch out for distraction/theft scams.

 This starts with a distraction e.g. Someone asks for directions, drops money in
front of you, asks you to donate, and variations on these distractions.
9. Pay particular attention to stations.
10. Be aware of the people around you and pay attention to what they are doing.
  Pickpockets are often looking at one thing - tourist and tourists bags they are
not interested in - anything else around them. Except maybe the police so if you
keep your eyes open, you will become more aware of when to keep your guard
up.
11. Take out a travel insurance policy.
 Make sure that you meet the terms of the policy before you leave. Some
policies require that you can prove your belongings are worth what you say
they are worth it.

12. Keep your passport safe.

 Spanish law requires that you have photographic identification at all times
although a photocopy of your passport

13. Do not be folded by a fake policeman or "undercover" police.

 This is now becoming an all too common scam. Several people are involved in
this scam. They say they are undercover police and they have seen someone
come up to you earlier who they have been following.

14. Emulate the dress code of the residents.

 You will be seen as a savvy tourist and also much less likely to stand out from
the crowd. You will also have excellent excuse to buy some new clothing.
15 Avoid walking in the dark isolated back streets, especially if you are alone.
16 When on the beach, do not leave your belongings.
 If you're going to do some sunbathing etc., be sure to leave any valuables
locked up in the hotel safe.

What to Do When You are Attacked/ Hijacked

1. Try to remain calm, and do not panic.

2. Think quickly because your mind will be your first defense.
3. Evaluate the situation, look around and see if there is someone, and see if you can run and
make as much noise as possible.
4. Do not resist when being attacked unless you can escape.
5. Be prepared to let your bag/package go if someone tries to snatch it. Bags and packages can
be replaced but your life can not.
6. Cooperate and try to stall your attacker until help arrives.
7. If you are unable to escape, make sure that you concentrate on your attacker's identity and
try to notice eyes, age, height, color, face, scars, tattoos, limps, clothes, speech accents, and
patterns.
8. Try to leave your fingerprints wherever you can, also leave small personal items behind,
such as an earring, lipstick, scuff link- anything that can be traced back to you.
9. Report the attack as soon as possible.

Safety on the Beach

1. Never swim alone.
2. Swim only at designated bathing patrolled by a lifeguard.
3. Do not swim when drunk.
4. Do not leave your belongings unattended.
5. Place your litter in the bins provided and leave the beach as you would like to find it - clean.
6. Do not walk alone on an isolated
beach.

Safety at the Hotel

1. Never leave you luggage unattended.

2. Store your valuables in the hotel safety deposit box.
3. Lock your room at all times, whether you are in the hotel or out.
4. If someone knocks, check who it is before opening.
5. Hand the keys in at the desk when you leave the hotel.
6. Be observant when entering the parking areas.
7. Carry your passport and/or travel documents only if you have to, alternatively carry certified
copies.

Safety in the Car

1. Buy a map and your route in advance.
2 Do not leave any items on the seat, place them in the boot.
3 Never pick up strangers or hitchhikers.
4. Wind your windows up or leave a light gap.
5. You should observe suspicious persons at a red traffic light at night, it would be acceptable
to proceed carefully, provided there are no other vehicles.
6. Do not stop and rest on deserted roads.
7 Distances between towns are considerable. Make sure that you do not run out of gas.
8. Do not stop at accidents or obstacles in the road- rather call the police.
9. When someone bumps your car from behind under suspicious circumstances do not stop.

The Department of National Defense

The Department of National Defense (DND; Filipino: Kagawaran ng Tanggulang
Pambansa, KTP) is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for
guarding against external and internal threats to peace and security in the country. The
Department of National Defense exercises executive supervision over the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office
(PVAO), the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), and the Government
Arsenal (GA). It is also responsible for disaster preparation and management in the country.
KAGAWARAN
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) (Filipino: Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas,
Spanish: Fuerzas Armadas de Filipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of
the Army, the Navy (including the Marine Corps), and the Air Force. The President of the
Philippines is the Commander-in-Chief of AFP and forms military policy with the Department
of National Defense, an executive department acting as the principal organs by which military
policy is carried out. A previously attached branch is the defunct Philippine Constabulary,
while the Philippine Coast Guard is a wartime attached service. Military service is entirely
voluntary.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD)

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD; Filipino: Tanggapan ng Tanggulang Sibil, TTS) is
an organization within the Philippines's Department of National Defense (DND) and serves as
the implementing arm of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC). As such, it has the primary mission of administering a comprehensive national
civil defense and disaster risk reduction and management program by providing leadership in
the continuous development of strategic and systematic approaches as well as measures to
reduce the vulnerabilities and risks to hazards and manage the consequences of disasters.

Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO)

The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) (Filipino: Tanggapan Kapakanan ng
mga Beteranong Pilipino) is the agency of the Philippine para a government under the
Department of National Defense thru which a grateful nation pays its debt of gratitude to her
defenders- the Filipino Veterans. PVAO serves to fulfill a national commitment as embodied in
Section 7, Article XVI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution:
"The State shall provide immediate and adequate care, benefits, and other forms of
assistance to war veterans and veterans of military campaigns, their surviving spouses, and
orphans. Funds shall be provided therefore and due consideration shall be given them in the
disposition of agricultural lands of the public domain and, in appropriate cases, in the
utilization of natural resources."

National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP)

The National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) (Filipino: Dalubhasaan ng
Tanggulang Pambansa ng Pilipinas) is an educational, training, and research agency of the
Philippine government located inside Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Metro Manila.
It is responsible for providing continued and intensive studies of the diverse problems relating
to national defense and security. It is under the Department of National Defense.

Government Arsenal (GA) TANGGULANG

The Government Arsenal (GA) is an agency of the Philippine government under the
Department of National Defense, responsible for the production of basic weaponry and
ammunition for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police
(PNP), among others, and for the sale and export of products over AFP/PNP requirements.
Human Security Act of 2007 (RA 9372)
The Human Security Act of 2007 (RA 9372) is a Philippine law that took effect on
February 8, 2007. This law is one of the most primary anti-terrorism law that brings the
Philippines in line with its Southeast Asian neighbors battling Islamist militants. It is aimed at
tackling militants in the southern Philippines.
The law defines terrorism as a crime by describing, "causes widespread and
extraordinary fear and panic among the populace" and allows authorities to arrest terror
suspects without warrants and temporarily detain them without charges. Under the law,
detained terrorists are entitled to see a lawyer, a priest, a doctor, or family members.

National Security Strategy 2018

To ensure the sustained and focused implementation of our country's National Security
Policy 2017-2022 (NSP 2017-2022) through EO No. 16 dated April 2017. The Office of the
President published and distributed to all government instrumentalities it's National Security
Strategy 2018 (NSS 2018).
NSS 2018 is the Philippines' first official publication and implements the NSP 2017-
2022's overarching principle that national security and economic development are closely
intertwined and mutually reinforcing concepts. As in NSP 2017-2022, NSS 2018 has the broad
theme of bringing about meaningful and lasting socio-economic and political change aimed at
building a stronger nation and improving the lives of the Filipino people.
NSS 2018 integrates the state's major security policies, goals, responsibilities, and
courses of action into a roadmap for the fulfillment of the national security vision. It seeks to
foster better coordination, synchronization, and cohesion of government functions to improve
efficiency and maximize the use of limited State resources.

Safety and Security

Crime
On 2 June 2017, a gunman set fire to a casino in Pasay, Manila. About 38 people were
killed, including the gunman. The Philippine authorities have identified this as a criminal act.
There's a high level of violent crime, including gun crime. Although British nationals
are not normally targeted, they have been caught up in some incidents.
Criminal gangs sometimes use terrorist tactics like kidnapping. Explosions attributed to
criminal organizations have caused fatalities.
There is a high incidence of street crime and robbery. You should take sensible
precautions. Arrange to be met at the airport, or use a hotel transfer service or an official
airport taxi where they exist. Only use taxis from a reputable company. Some taxi drivers and
their accomplices have robbed and harmed passengers. Avoid displaying cash or jewelry.
Beware of strangers offering drinks or confectionery. They may be spiked.
Be particularly vigilant when traveling on public transport. Armed hold-ups have
occurred on 'jeepneys' and buses, mainly in larger cities like Metro Manila and Cebu. In some
cases, these have resulted in fatalities.
Local Travel
Seek advice from local contacts and always leave travel plans with friends, colleagues,
or relatives. Safety standards on taxis, buses, and boats can be be low.
You should take particular care during the rainy season when flash floods and
landslides can occur.
Air Travel
A list of incidents and accidents can be found on the website of the Aviation Safety
Network.
The FCO can't offer advice on the safety of individual airlines. However, the
International Air Transport Association publishes a list of registered airlines that have been
audited and found to meet several operational safety standards and recommended practices.
This list is not exhaustive and the absence of an airline from this list does not necessarily mean
that it is unsafe.
With effect from June 2015, all Philippine airlines are allowed to operate in European
airspace.

Sea Travel
There is a high level of piracy and armed robbery against ships in and around
Philippine water.
Commercial shipping companies have been advised to adopt heightened vigilance when
navigating the Sulu and Celebes Seas. Most maritime incidents occur in the Sulu Sea in the
area between Mindanao, the Sulu archipelago, Palawan, and Sabah (Malaysia).
The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combatting Piracy and Armed Robbery
against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) advises all ships to re-route from the area where possible.
Avoid travel on ferries and passenger boats, if possible. They are often overloaded, lack
necessary lifesaving equipment, are not adequately maintained, and have incomplete passenger
manifests. Storms can develop quickly.
There are frequent accidents involving ferries and other forms of sea transport, resulting
in loss of life. Two large ferries sank in 2013 causing a substantial number of casualties and
injuries. Another incident in July 2015 in the Visayas led to over 60 deaths when a boat
overturned in strong waves.
Maritime rescue services in the Philippines may be limited.

Political Situation
Keep up-to-date with local and international developments, and avoid demonstrations
or large gatherings of people. The Philippines Bureau of Immigration has specifically warned
foreign nationals against participating in public protests and political rallies. Foreign nationals
who participate in these activities may be detained and deported for violating Philippine
immigration laws.

Types of Tourism-Related Incidents

Perhaps the most fundamental matter to consider in securing the tourism industry from
end to end, in a holistic manner, is to identify the major types of security incidents that have
varying degrees of negative impact on the five A's, on the tourists themselves, and on the
tourism industry. These are crime-related incidents, terrorism, war, and civil-political unrest.
 The fondness of our politicians and media to use the word "war" in fighting crimes,
insurgency, rebellion, drug addiction, and even poverty is not helping our tourism marketing
efforts at all. We are a country perceived to be at war. Real wars that have an impact on
tourism are cross-border wars, trans-border wars, attrition wars, and civil wars. The Philippines
faces none of these. But short of being classified as civil war, political and civil unrest in the
form of violent demonstrations, uprising, dots, and coup d' etat or mutiny can subsequently
cause a global decline in tourist movements.
Terrorism could be domestic, international, or cross-border in form. Terrorism is more
aimed at targeting the economic dynamo of a country the tourism industry. Consider the past
attacks of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf where they kidnapped foreign tourists in a deadly and
gruesome manner. They went across the border by grabbing guests of a dive resort at Sipadan,
Malaysia, and bringing them to Philippine territory.
Terrorism targets tourism because they aim to harm tourists-Westerners they consider
as enemies of their religious wars. Furthermore, tourist destinations are soft targets. Populated
mostly by foreigners (assumed as Americans and US allies), these are areas where any terror
attack draws short-lasting but high-impact media coverage. We have seen terror attacks at
hotels and resorts in Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Pakistan, and India. What comes to mind when
Bali, Indonesia is mentioned? Not the beautiful beaches, but the bombings that killed hundreds
of Westerners, mostly Australians,
However, crime-related incidents in the form of tourism-related security incidents have
a constant and widespread scope of impact. These are the incidents that can happen across all
five A's. Crimes can take various modes of operation and execution in different scenarios. A
local victimizes a tourist, a tourist against another tourist, a tourist against a local, or an
organized crime group against a business enterprise.
Theft is the most common yet least publicized among crimes. Robbery, rape, physical
injury, homicide, piracy, and kidnapping are crimes that figure prominently not only in
national and local newspapers but also in the Internet online versions and blogs - accessible to
tourists all over the world. What's ironic though is that tourists would rather charge to
experience the crime incident that they were involved in rather than report them to the police.

The Journey is End to End

How do we mitigate the impact of negative news on our tourism initiatives and
marketing efforts? Hard times call for hard decisions, which are, most of the time, knee-jerk
reactions. Usually, one of the first cost-cutting measures is to reduce security expenses. Cost-
efficient security measures usually have an immediate effect on the investments in, and
maintenance of, security and safety programs and systems.
The journey starts with the selection of the places to visit. The marketing effort is
measured by how many tourists choose to visit a particular place. For a country with no world-
renowned landmark to associate itself with, the Philippines attempts to grab the potential
tourist from the point of decision making by showcasing in various media our attractions and
the activities and accommodation facilities we offer. Such marketing efforts, however,
considering the low advertising budget, are negated when tourism-related security incidents are
getting more global news airtime than the few seconds of the WOW Philippines advertisement.

Arrival
Before tourists reach the Arrival area, they need to access airlines or operators for trip
details. The integrity of the booking process is one thing to consider at this age of scams,
identity theft, bogus websites, and organized crime groups. Though airlines and hotels can
assure a higher level of guests' data protection, weak links like unscrupulous travel agents still
exist. The sad part is, there seems to be no active effort to monitor anomalous booking
activities.
 At the Arrival stage of the journey, things get physically real for the tourist setting foot
on Philippine soil. Investment in the Arrival areas should cover the safety and security of
budget air transports, sea vessels, travel agencies, tour operations, and of course, land
transportation such as buses, shuttle vans, taxis, tricycles, etc.
Since we are prone to natural disasters and man-made calamities, there should be
conscious, active, and systemic efforts to ensure the worthiness of our land, sea, and air
transports. About this, responding to emergencies is not solely the task of the government but
of the private sector as well.

When asked about the emergency response training in relation to DOT Memo Circular
2006-09, Secretary Joseph Durano said the DOT has partnered with the Armed Forces of the
Philippines on this matter. However, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff,
Gen. Alexander Yano, in an interview, without directly denying such partnership with DOT,
stressed that the AFP is going to respond to any disaster situation (in the context of natural
disasters and man-made calamities). The statements of the DOT Secretary and AFP Chief
show their conflicting takes on emergency response. Hence, the private sector, as the prime
stakeholders, must take a more active role in emergency preparedness and response.

Access
There are more safety and security challenges in the area of Access. Our provincial
roads are not well paved, poorly maintained, and littered with both trash and pedestrians. Aside
from being narrow, our roads were built for cars alone. There are no sidewalks for the public to
use. The sight of pedestrians walking along carriageways close to the passing vehicles is very
common.
The Access areas are the spokes that connect Arrival, Accommodation, Attractions, and
Activities to each other. Access is the weakest link in the journey due to several factors
political, cultural, and social. For example, during the summer fiesta season, temporary and
makeshift roadblocks set up by fundraising barangay groups pose road hazards. The absence of
proper "road checkpoint" signage and uniformed "collectors" presents a perfect ruse for
roadside robberies. In addition, missing road directional signs can lead to some tourism-related
security concerns, too. During election season, tourists witness campaign materials nailed,
plastered, and littered everywhere. Not to mention the increased number of murder cases
attributed to the elections.
We see street children begging for food and money in the middle of our main public
streets. We also see street vendors plying their wares at intersections. We also see traffic
policemen arresting jaywalkers.

Accommodation
The strongest link is in the area of Accommodation where there is a semblance of
organized safety and security effort. The Association of Hotel Security Officers in the
Philippines or AHSOP, organized in 1974, has the advantage of sharing real-time information
on security issues and best practices, and all the benefits of networked security officers.
However, membership to this security organization is somehow limited, participated
only by 4- or 5-star hotels in Makati, Ortigas, and the Manila Bay areas. The newly organized
Cebu Chapter is inching its way to more members in the province. On the other hand, PCCI is
encouraging investments on event and breakfast ventures and other support businesses like
convenience stores, laundry shops, decent cafeterias, and even the growing number of hoteliers
and culinary schools. These establishments should have the security and safety mindset of the
big hotels, which can afford their own dedicated security officers. They should also have their
own emergency preparedness program at hand should situations call for it.
Attractions and Activities
The jurisdiction of security officers (if there is one) in the Accommodation segment of
the journey does not cover the areas beyond their perimeter walls. This makes the area of
Attraction attractive to criminals. Our public beaches and shorelines are left to occasional
security and safety care of local volunteers, tanods, or local security guards (if there are). Our
mountain ranges are deforested, and if not, populated by insurgents or bandit groups. The
mining industry, where revenues are not actually flowing in to the country, is competing with
eco and medical tourism initiatives in terms of real estate and the environment itself. DOT
Memo Circular 2006-09 does not cover retirement villages, medical tourism centers, historical
sites, festivals and events sites, and theme parks.
Most of the historical and natural attractions are within public domain or government
administration. Our historical sites are prone to vandalism not because they are under the care
of public safety officials (read: police) but due to lack of law enforcement and the temptation
of the adjacent commercial establishments.
New dimensions to consider under tourist attractions and activities are medical,
ecological, and agro-tourism programs. This means new forms of risks, threats, and
vulnerabilities to different profiles of tourists. Tourist safety should be paramount. It must be
the foremost concern of the organizers of our tours, sports, and outdoor activities.

Current Initiatives
The Tourism Bill of 2008 (SB2213), which hopefully will be signed into law soon, is
expected to provide the much-needed revamp of national tourism. Section 79, or the Peace and
Order section of said bill, mandates the creation of the Tourism Security Force (TSF).
However, apprehensions and concerns of some groups on how effective the TSF will be are
valid. How will the TSF cover all the five A's? Imagine the international airport terminals that
are overpopulated as they are by "security forces" in different uniforms and forms. Should the
TSF be there also? Not yet, but that can be done. Since they will be indoctrinated on cultural
sensitivity, languages, and relevant laws, they are expected to perform their jobs better than
their erstwhile anti-pimping and prostitution orientation.
Moreover, the TSF is to operate within the jurisdiction of the Tourist Enterprise Zone
Authority (TEZA). It is clear that not all the five A's will be under the TEZA jurisdiction due
to geographic clustering or territorial constraints.

We have heard of the Tourist Oriented Police Community Oriented Police or TOPCOP
in areas of Lagawe, Ifugao and Caraga region, and the Task Force Tourists Patrol in
Intramuros, Malate, and Rizal Park. In one Mindanao province, they have this Security of
Tourist Operation Program or STOP. The goal of STOP is to spread security awareness and
address tourist security issues. The downside of employing local special security measures is
that they are limited and operate only within the declared tourism infrastructure.
DOT Memo Circular 2006-09, issued on August 23, 2006, intends to create a mindset
of security and safety awareness, and emergency response preparedness among DOT-
accredited accommodation facilities. Doubts were raised if this memo is strictly followed to the
letter. AHSOP and DOT would be able to conduct only two Security, Safety and Emergency
Response Seminar Workshops while it supposedly an annual activity.

What is End-to-End Holistic Approach?

Much of the teeth in any law lies in Implementing Rules and Regulations or IRR. At
this stage, the misinterpretation of security as equivalent to peace and order still be corrected
and consequently, even strengthen the relationship between private and public security forces.
Obviously, the jurisdiction of the TEZA and its TSF cannot cover all the PICC-led initiatives
across all five A's of the journey, especially the Access segment which is the line that connects
TEZAS. As often said, security is only as strong as its weakest link.

Assessment of Risks, Threat, and Vulnerabilities of All five A's

To get the real picture of the prevailing situation, assessment should first be done to
determine the various risks and threats that the five A's are facing. The assessment can be
conducted by a credible entity with more than basic understanding and background in both
security risk management and tourism industry or, by a committee of representatives from the
private stakeholders including the DOT, DILG, and DND. The assessment report can be done
parallel to the determination of TEZA's geographical jurisdiction, which will also involve the
same stakeholders.
The assessment will definitely take considerable time to complete considering the scope
of areas to cover, the number of arrival areas, access routes, accommodation facilities, tourist
attractions and activities to visit, and the various stakeholders to interview.
The assessment report could also be one of the reference materials for the drafting of
the IRR and even in the determination of area of responsibility of the TEZAS. Funding for the
conduct of the assessment may be drawn from the seed capital as provided by the Tourism Act.

Application of Remedial Measures

Assessment reports are always done with a list of recommended measures to address all
matters considered as risks, threats, strengths, and vulnerabilities. Recommended remedial
measures to address the findings of the assessment report should be deliberated upon by the
contracting party prior to acceptance and application of each recommendation. The application
of the recommended actions can be enforced by including compliance with these measures in
the accreditation process.

Accreditation System for All Stakeholders of the Five A's

There is an urgent need to revamp most, if not all, of the DOT accreditation
requirements of the different private stakeholders of the industry. The requirements for the
accreditation of hotels, tourist inns, apartelles, resorts, pension houses, and other
accommodation establishments are irrelevant to the current business and security environment.
The provisions are mostly motherhood statements that allow gray areas for non-compliance.
For example, the security requirement for accreditation of hotels is to provide security
guards on a 24-hour basis at all entrances and exits of the premises while tourism-related
establishments are only asked to maintain adequate security. The definition of adequate
security is perceptive enough that it differs depending on who is spending for security or who
is the victim of security incidents. Noticeably, accreditation of travel and four services requires
no security item at all.
The essence of accreditation is to raise the bar and let stakeholders reach certain
standards. Standards then should be based on the recommended and approved remedial
measures provided by the assessment report.
The value of accreditation is even recognized by the tourism bill, since it includes the
accreditation process for the awarding of franchises to transportation service providers. The
accreditation criteria should go beyond the physical security requirement. It should consider
the wise employment of security and safety policies, procedures, and systems. To ensure
participation in best practices and compliance with safety and security regulations, it is
necessary to update and upgrade the accreditation process and requirements set by the DOT.
Assimilation of Security, Safety and Emergency Response Programs
Understanding the nature of the security and safety challenges of the tourism industry
starts with looking at documented and well-researched fact and figures. A central body should
collect, process, and analyze pertinent information in order to learn lessons for future
prevention, mitigation, or avoidance of negative impacts.
Safety and security incidents are expected to occur regardless of the counter or
preventive measures employed by both the government and the private sector. The issue now is
how the public and private partnership and stakeholders will respond to calamities arising from
man's activities, and natural incidents which are impossible to completely prevent.
The government defines emergency in a greater scale than the private sector. Hotels, for
example, consider a serious injury to a guest or staff as an emergency. Not all tourist
establishments are ready to manage such incidents while the government sector does not even
get involved at all. When incidents are caused by the impact of widespread fires, floods,
storms, and other calamities or disasters, natural or otherwise, the sector can only do what its
resources and management system can handle while the government sector assumes the key
role.
It is imperative that the DOT and other concerned government agencies work closely
and regularly with the private sector. In the same manner, the national police and other law
enforcement agencies must continue to make headway in their partnership. It is high time that
such partnership in security, safety and emergency response is institutionalized, instead of the
usual monthly socials, speeches, and annual scripted drills.
Closer coordination, cooperation, and working relationships may include the active
participation in crisis management planning in order to mitigate the negative effects on the
local community, the tourism industry, the national economy, and to the tourists themselves.
The private tourism enterprise carries the major responsibility in mitigating and
preventing safety and security incidents in their jurisdictions while the government sector,
national and local, takes responsibility for the other tourist destination areas. However,
different dynamics will come to play within the TEZA territories.
The recovery stage after a big or major safety and security incident is dependent on the
mutual support of each stakeholder in the affected areas. Mutual support could be technical,
financial, logistical, work force, or even moral support that criss-crosses various sectors and
bypasses the bureaucratic processes.
Tourists should be educated about their own safety and security, about the hazards and
other risks during their trips. One subtle way is by giving them simple and universally
applicable tips on preventive measures and response procedures. This is where the big private
stakeholders are strong because they have competent communications directors who manage
the minute details of their press statements and marketing materials.
The role of the government in positively managing the media and the travel advisories
should be focused on marketing a positive image to reduce apprehensions, panic, or even
speculations. And if prior efforts are not sufficient, the government can handle quick recovery
to normalcy.
Resiliency of the tourism industry depends also on our management of emergency
response and how we strengthen the security weak links in the investment areas. Once we have
attained such level of credentials, then tourists would certainly enjoy and remember the
experience of a safe arrival, easy access, perfect accommodation, interesting attractions, and
dynamic activities. At the end of the day, the question is whether our tourists get terrified or
fall in love with the Philippines.