Davao City (27 July) -- Key players in the tourism industry will undergo a series of workshops geared towards advocacy campaign on assuring tourists of their safety while in the country.

Department of Tourism regional director for Southern Mindanao Sonia Garcia said they wanted to make the players in tourism be aware that security awareness is a must for everybody to know.

The DOT has launched nationwide a project dubbed as STOP or Security of Tourists Operation Program which is a joint undertaking with the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP)- Department of National Defense aimed at enhancing disaster management and security capabilities among tourism stakeholders as main beneficiaries.

In a briefer released during the project launch yesterday at Grand Men Seng Hotel, DOT Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano said it is timely for it sets a strong ground in preparing tourism stakeholders in case of unexpected natural calamities like the recent tsunami.

He said it would also cushion the effects of travel advisories and other threats that affect the industry.

Durano said it would strengthen the promotion of the country as a safe tourist destination and show the government's serious initiatives in fighting all other security threats.

In the Davao region, the STOP project was received fully and has earned support by key leaders in the industry.

Davao Tourism Association (DATA) president Art Boncato said the organizers have their support even as he said that plans should have one focus and direction to make it effective.

Atty. Dominador Duerme, president of Rotary Club of Davao said the STOP is one program that should be established and all of us must support.

Police chief superintendent Antonio Billones also said that efforts must be coordinated and integrated.

For the part of the PNP, he said they would set up one community police action center (COMPACT) in areas frequented by tourists.

He said one will be set up in front of Marco Polo Hotel in order to support tourists activities as well as protect them. He said the building would be complete by end of year.

Part of the activity under STOP is to convene and evaluate the security plans that the area has and come up with one scheme.

The DOT has signed up an agreement with the National Defense College of the Philippines-Department of National Defense for a related program that will delve on the formation of the tourists oriented police as well as community oriented police.

Under the program, it will choose policemen who will become tourists' oriented police officers. The named policemen will undergo tourism frontline service training.

The DOT has envisioned that tourism stakeholders be provided with a secure and safe environment conducive to effectively promote tourism as an economic engine of growth and put the Philippines as one of Asia's safest destinations in the world. (PIA/pdbanzon)