ILOILO City – In response to the influx of tourists this summer season, the Regional Maritime Unit 6 (RMU-6) has escalated security operations on Boracay Island, a popular destination for both local and international visitors.
Colonel Ervin Glenn Provido, the regional director of RMU-6, reported that additional personnel have been deployed since the beginning of summer to support the local police force in safeguarding tourists.
“With the anticipated increase in visitors, including celebrities and foreigners, it is crucial to strengthen our security presence,” said Provido.
He emphasized the collaborative efforts of various government agencies to maintain peace and order on the island through daily seaborne security patrols.
Boracay Island welcomed a total of 807,184 tourists from January 1 to May 15 this year, according to the Malay Tourism Office.
Of these, 601,149 were domestic travelers while 9,754 were overseas Filipinos and 196,226 were foreign visitors.
Data from the first five months of 2024 indicated that Korean nationals led the number of foreign visitors, followed by Chinese and American tourists.
The local government of Malay, which oversees Boracay, aims to exceed its annual target of 2.3 million tourist arrivals.
Boracay is renowned for its pristine white beaches and vibrant nightlife. The island is accessible via flights to Caticlan or Kalibo airports, followed by a brief boat ride.
Just recently, the Regional Development Council (RDC) acknowledged that while the surge in tourist arrivals in Boracay may have brought positive economic benefits, this has breached the island’s limit to accommodate travelers. It warned of negative impacts including environmental degradation, strain on infrastructure, and even local communities.
Meanwhile, RMU-6 is also actively combating illegal activities such as unauthorized fishing and drug trafficking throughout Western Visayas.
In the first four months of the year, RMU-6 officers have apprehended 354 individuals for illegal fishing in the region.
Moreover, between May 8 and 15, eight illegal fishers were detained in the seawaters off Carles, Iloilo.
Major Janvier Gilza of RMU-6 highlighted a recent operation where personnel patrolling the northern waters of Iloilo intercepted several fishing vessels engaged in activities violating Section 86 of Republic Act 10654 (Philippine Fisheries Code)./PN
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