ILOCOS SUR, Philippines – The Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP) Training successfully concluded at the Ilocos Sur Provincial Police Office after after four days of meaningful discussions, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration among tourism and law enforcement stakeholders, on August 14.

The training officially opened on August 1, through the leadership of Col. Agosto Asuncion, Provincial Director of the Ilocos Sur Provincial Police Office, represented by LtCol.Honesto Lazo,Jr., Deputy Provincial Director for Administration, in partnership with the Department of Tourism Region I, led by Regional Director Benjamin “Bingo” Manahan,Jr., represented by Assisgtant Regional Director Evangeline Dadat.

Over the four-day training, participants gained valuable knowledge through lectures on Gender and Development, TOPCOP Overview, Basic Principles of Tourist Safety, Observation Description Exercises, OSINT, International Human Rights, Philippine History and Filipino Culture and Tradition, Tourism Products and Services in Ilocos Sur, the Incident Command System, First Aid, and the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE).

One of the highlights of the training was the workshop and interaction with tourism stakeholders from the accommodation, restaurant, transportation, security, travel and tour, and tour guiding sectors, as well as representatives from the Provincial Tourism Office of Ilocos Sur. Participants identified existing issues and concerns within the tourism industry and presented possible actions and solutions, followed by valuable insights and recommendations from DOT-accredited trainer Marjorie Dafun.

The training concluded with a graduation ceremony that featured messages from PCOL Agosto M. Asuncion, PLTCOL Rodel Ularte, and Assistant Regional Director Evangeline M. Dadat. A class impression was also delivered by PMAJ Medel Periñion, reflecting on the participants’ experiences and learnings throughout the training.

The ceremony also included the awarding of certificates to resource speakers, facilitators, and participants, followed by the pinning ceremony, formally marking the successful completion of the training.

This successful activity was made possible through the partnership of the Department of Tourism Region I, the Ilocos Sur Provincial Police Office, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur, the Provincial Tourism Office, and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO)-Ilocos Sur.

Together, let us continue building a safer, more welcoming, and more sustainable tourism industry for everyone.