EDITORIAL - Keeping the visitors coming

A resolution urging the Cebu City government to allocate several patrol vehicles to the city's police force has been approved by the City Council. The move has been part of the effort to intensify the visibility of the police around the city.

"Following the six-month closure of Boracay from any tourist activities, there is an expected increase and influx in the number of tourist in the City of Cebu. There has been a limited resource of service patrol in the police office making it imperative for the city to allocate such vehicles in order to provide timely response to ensure the security and safety of our constituents," read part of the resolution.

Tourist arrival in Cebu Province and rest of Central Visayas is expected to skyrocket on account of the Boracay closure. For the council, there is a serious need for the Cebu City Police Office to be equipped with the means to upgrade its capabilities.

It would be a nightmare for the police to secure the rising number of tourists considering their limited resources. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the Philippine National Police leadership to provide them with the necessary equipment to secure the visitors.

The problem is that the PNP cannot provide all the assistance to all of its offices and stations nationwide, given the fact that the bulk of its annual budget goes to the salaries of its personnel. This leaves some police stations, especially those in the countryside, with limited hardware.

This is the reason why it has become ordinary for many police offices and stations to rely on the local government unit for assistance. In Cebu City, for instance, the local government has been providing patrol cars and financial and fuel allowances to the police for decades.

With the expected influx of more tourists in the coming weeks, it was just right for the council to call on the city government to provide vehicle assistance to the CCPO as part of the effort to boost security around the city, especially in tourist areas.

The executive department should also take into account the fact that there is now a need for the police to intensify their operations as they brace for the huge volume of visitors. Safety and security are the most important aspects in the campaign to keep the visitors coming.