• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has lauded the Philippine National Police for the training of its members in tourism promotion of Negros Occidental.
Personnel of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and Bacolod City Police Office have completed the Integrated Tourist Safety and Security Seminar or TOPCOPS (Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection) on Friday, with the closing ceremony held at the Northwest Inn in Bacolod City, attended by PBrig. Archival Macala, officer in charge of the Police Regional Office 6.
In his speech, Lacson thanked the graduates for their commitment to service and willingness to learn the aspects of policing in relation to tourism.
The training was spearheaded by the Department of Tourism Region Western Visayas and PRO 6.
Lacson said the training is a step forward toward responsible tourism, improvement of community safety, and enhancement of the destination image of the province, as there is a wide scope of impacts influencing the safety of tourists.
“Safety has an important position from the point of view of tourism quality,” he stressed.
Also witnessed the closing rites were Artemio Ticar of the Dept. of Tourism 6, PCol. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, among others.*