MEDIA RELEASE

13 December 2010

National TOP COP launched today

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), through
Secretary Alberto Lim and PNP Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo respectively,
earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that strengthened the
partnership to ensure safety and security of both local and foreign tourists, through the
National TOP COP (Tourism Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection) at
the PNP Headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The National TOP COP program, Secretary Lim explains, “aims to strengthen the
relationship of the DOT with the PNP in providing a safe and secure environment for
tourists, establish a 24-hour Tourist Office to be strategically-located in tourist
destinations, enhance police visibility in areas with high tourist movement especially
during night time, and sustain the availability of tourist police in key tourist destinations.”

He said, “It will involve various trainings such as Tourism Awareness Seminar, Values
Formation & Effective Customer Service, Cultural Sensitivity Seminar, Language
Courses, Risk Reduction & Crisis Management, other tourism-related and security
trainings, which will teach our police proper ways to handle our tourists.”

To date, there are 185 police who have undergone training and are strategically located
all over Metro Manila and Cebu City. Next year, the number of trained TOP COP will
increase, and would be visible in Zambales, Baguio City, Davao City, Boracay Islands,
Puerto Princesa City, Bohol, Ilocos Norte, Negros Oriental, Camarines Sur, Cagayan
de Oro City, Camiguin and Cagayan Valley.

Complementing the TOP COP program of the Department, Secretary Lim proposed to
the Supreme Court the creation of Tourism Courts, or night courts, which will make
possible the formal lodging and speedy hearing of complaints by short-staying tourists.

General Bacalzo agreed that this would be a big stride in curbing crimes against foreign
tourists as “about 99% of these are not filed nor pursued, unless the tourist comes back
for hearings.”

Tourism Undersecretary Atty. Ma. Victoria Jasmin and PNP Acting Director for
Operations Police Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluña witnessed the signing of the
MOU. Secretary Lim was given arrival honors and a pass-in-review, the PNP's way of
giving honor to VIP guests, as the event ended this morning.

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MOU Signing of the National TOP COP Program. DOT Secretary Alberto Lim affixes his signature while
DOT Undersecretary Ma. Victoria V. Jasmin signs as witness. The PNP was represented by General Raul
Bacalzo and Chief Police Superintendent Josefino Cataluña as signatory and witness. (Photo by Nestor
Dionido, DOT)

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CONTACT: Evelyn A. Macayayong

Office of Tourism Information
525-1805