WPD to put up tourist assistance desks in all stations, says Pasinos

Very soon, tourists in Manila who are victims of crime can seek police help almost immediately.

This after the Western Police District bared a plan to set-up tourist assistance desks in all police stations in the city soon.

"We really need to have a tourist police section in all police stations. We cannot really tell where these tourists will be going in the city or where they would be victimized by crime. As such we have proposed a plan to set-up help desks in all police stations in the city," said Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos, WPD director.

Pasinos said the plan and its implementing mechanics is now being closely studied by the National Capital Region Police Office.

According to Pasinos, police officers specially trained to deal with foreign tourists, will be assigned to man the assistance desks. Pasinos said those assigned would most likely be trained to speak at least two foreign languages to deal with foreign tourists.

At the moment, all complaints filed by foreign tourists in Manila are received at the General Assignments Section of the WPD. The GAS is also the unit that investigates cases involving foreign tourists be they victims or suspects.

In addition to the formation of tourist help desks in all Manila police stations, the WPD is also helping the Eastern Police District, the Central Police District and the Southern Police District get the Metro project implemented.

Launched last Independence Day, Pasinos said the Metro Project which is a joint undertaking of the NCRPO and the Department of Tourism, aims to keep all major tourist areas in Metro Manila safe for foreign tourists.

Under the project, police visibility will be heightened in all roads and areas most likely to be frequented by tourists.

According to Pasinos, included in these areas of concern are the area from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Taft Avenue, the area from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to the South Expressway, the area along EDSA and Quezon City and the entire C-5 highway stretch.

"The project aims to keep all these areas safe for foreign tourists by keeping them free from obstructions and criminal elements," said Pasinos.

As part of the project, the WPD has pledged police personnel to man 17 police outposts in the city. These outposts, said Pasinos, will be set-up in tourist frequented areas. – Mike Frialde