MEMBERS of the Bakun Municipal Police Station is set to promote police tourism to encourage more tourists to visit the various tourist destinations in the municipality.
Bakun Municipal Police Station Deputy Chief Inspector Ambrosio Baliw-an said the municipality’s various mountain ranges and waterfalls are a heaven for tourist fond of trekking, camping and picnicking.
Although the town has a total of 25 police personnel, with eight additional forces coming from the Provincial Public Safety Company, serving the 15,357 population, Baliw-an credits the low rate of criminality to the leadership of the barangay officials who initially try to resolve potential crimes.
"With Bakun having a low index and non-index crime rate, it is a potential tourist destination for both local and international tourists who may want to explore the beauty of the municipality," said Baliw-an.
Among the tourist destinations in the town are Mountains Liblibo, Tugawi, and Gedgedayan, while other areas are the Olineg tunnel cave, Ampusungan and Labay River, the waterfalls of Mangta, Sinacbat, and Wanga-Barbarit, aside from the Picao, Sacop, Tekip, Poblacion, Tres Maria's and Patton waterfalls.
"The objective of having a tourist friendly police is to conduct regular patrol to ensure the safety and protection of both tourists and residents within his jurisdiction, coordinate with concerned police stations and barangays in monitoring and investigating all cases involving tourists, and to take immediate appropriate actions to resolve crimes through the help of the barangay officials," said Baliw-an.
Tourists visiting the town are required to register prior to their trekking or picnicking activities. A tourist guide will be assigned to each group. The Bakun police will get a copy of the registered persons for proper monitoring and documentation.
"The strong support and coordination of the community with the police have proven to be a big deterrent against crimes, which gives a high potential for business possibilities in the municipality like tourism," Baliw-an said.
